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PHP gettype() Function (With Examples)
In this tutorial, we will learn about the PHP gettype() function with its usage, syntax, parameters, return value, and examples.
By IncludeHelp Last updated : December 31, 2023
PHP gettype() function
In PHP, we have a library function gettype() to identify the type of data. The function is primarily used to sanity check the type of data being input in a variable. The function can identify the data into the following data types:
Syntax
The syntax of the gettype() function:
gettype($var)
Parameters
The parameters of the gettype() function:
- $var is a variable containing data that needs to be checked.
Return Value
The return type of this method is string, it returns a data type.
PHP gettype() Function Example 1
<?php
// Creating variables with random datatype
$var1 = 1;
$var2 = 1.1;
$var3 = null;
$var4 = "example";
$var5 = false;
// using gettype() function to
// get the data type of the variable
echo gettype($var1) . "\n";
echo gettype($var2) . "\n";
echo gettype($var3) . "\n";
echo gettype($var4) . "\n";
echo gettype($var5) . "\n";
?>
Output
The output of the above example is:
integer
double
NULL
string
boolean
PHP gettype() Function Example 2
<?php
// creating an array with random datatypes
$arr = [21, 1.99, new stdClass(), "hello, World", false];
// getting the type of each element of array
// foreach is used to initialize array
// as independent values
foreach ($arr as $value) {
// getting and printing the type
echo gettype($value), "\n";
}
?>
Output
The output of the above example is:
integer
double
object
string
boolean
To understand the above example, you should have the basic knowledge of the following PHP topics: