float and bool
Learn the float and bool types and the use of true and false.
What is a float?
A float (or double) holds a number with a decimal point. Example: $price = 19.99;
In PHP the decimal separator is a dot; a comma is not allowed. Writing 19,99 causes a syntax error.
Use a float for fractional values like temperature, price or a ratio. Use an int for whole numbers and a float when you need a fractional part.
Computers cannot store all decimals exactly; the BCMATH functions for money will be covered later.
bool: true or false
A bool has only two values: true or false. It represents a logical state.
Example: $isOpen = true; or $isReady = false;.
PHP accepts the true and false keywords case-insensitively; so TRUE also works.
When you echo a bool, true appears as 1 and false appears as an empty string.
Exercise Print temperature and active status
Assign 23.5 to $temperature and true to $isActive. On the first line print Temperature: 23.5 C, on the second line print Active: 1; end each line with \n.
Show example solution
"Temperature: " . $temperature . " C\n", second: "Active: " . $isActive . "\n".
Example solution:
<?php
$temperature = 23.5;
$isActive = true;
echo "Temperature: " . $temperature . " C\n";
echo "Active: " . $isActive . "\n";Test yourself
-
Which one is a float value?
$price = 19.99;- $age = 25;
- $name = "25";
- $price = 19.99;
- $ok = false;
Show answer
$price = 19.99; — Correct! A number with a decimal point is a float.
-
Assign true to a bool variable
$isOpen = ____;Show answer
$isOpen = true; -
Match each value to its type
- 42
- integer
- 19.99
- float
- true
- boolean
- "text"
- string