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Ross Alejandro Bendal
8,993 PointsInt Vs Float
She said that "PHP handles the differences on int and float so you don't have to.", or something along those lines. Does that mean I can use an int with decimal? When do I use float and when do I use int? I understand the decimal differences, but if PHP will correct it, what is the best data type to use?
2 Answers
Robert Gouveia
Courses Plus Student 1,714 PointsYou can not use a decimal as an int.
For instance if you did the following function is_int():
is_int(23) = bool(true)
is_int('23') = bool(false)
is_int(23.5) = bool(false)
is_int('23.5') = bool(false)
is_int(NULL) = bool(false)
is_int(true) = bool(false)
is_int(false) = bool(false)
You will notice that all the decimal numbers are all returning false. The reason a couple are returning false is because when adding an int, you can not have the single quotes, all integers do not need single or double quotes because they are not a string.
Fuzzyclaws Frostpaw
5,178 PointsPHP auto-handles the "type" by checking the values of the variables... to expand on this further; if you need an integer, you set the variable's value as a whole number if you need a floating point number, you set the variable's value as a decimal. if you need the variable to act as a string to pass on another variable within it, you set the variable's value with double quotes and use concatenation if necessary, otherwise, you can use single quotes.