Variables are fundamental elements for storing and processing data. They allow storing various types of data. Let's explore how variables are created and the basic rules for using them in PHP.

Creating Variables

Variables are created using the dollar sign $ followed by the variable name. For example:

• = is the assignment operator used to assign a value to the variable;
• "variableValue" is the value you want to assign to the variable. It can be any data type such as a string, number, boolean value, or other data types supported by PHP.

For example, if you want to create a variable $name and assign it the value "John", it would look like this:

Rules for Creating Variables in PHP

Variable names must start with a letter. After the first character, they can contain letters, numbers, or underscores. PHP is case-sensitive (variables like $name, $Name, and $NAME are different).

Variable names should not contain spaces or special characters, except underscore (_).

Dynamic Typing

You do not need to explicitly declare a data type when creating a variable. The data type is automatically determined based on the value assigned to the variable. For example, a variable can start as a string and then be changed to an integer:

Variables are essential for storing and manipulating data. Following the rules for creating variables and using them correctly helps write clean and understandable code, simplifying development and maintenance.