How Can I Convert Strings to Numbers in PHP?

Converting Strings to Numbers in PHP

In various programming scenarios, it may be necessary to convert strings representing numerical values into actual numeric data. PHP offers a straightforward way to achieve this conversion through casting.

Understanding the Need for Conversion

In PHP, certain mathematical operations and functions require operands to be in numeric format. Strings, on the other hand, are considered text data, so they need to be converted before being used in numerical calculations.

Performing Type Coercion

In many cases, PHP will automatically coerce the type of a string to a number during mathematical operations. For instance:

$num = '3';
$result = $num + 5; // $result will be 8

However, there are situations where explicit conversion is preferred or required.

Explicit Conversion Using Casting

To explicitly convert a string to a number, use the following casting syntax:

• (int): Converts to an integer.
• (float): Converts to a float (double).

For example:

$num = "3.14";
$int = (int)$num; // $int will be 3
$float = (float)$num; // $float will be 3.14

Note:

• Casting to integer truncates the fractional part.
• Casting to float preserves the decimal value.

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