Here's a concise answer suitable for a 4-mark question:

PHP Data Types Overview:

PHP is a dynamically-typed language, which means you don't have to declare a variable's
data type explicitly. The type is determined by the value assigned to it. PHP supports the
following primary data types:

1. Scalar Types:

Integer: Whole numbers without a decimal point (e.g., 10, -5).

○
Float (Double): Numbers with decimal points (e.g., 3.14, -0.99).
○
String: A sequence of characters enclosed in quotes (e.g., "Hello
○
World").
○ Boolean: Represents two values: true or false.
2. Compound Types:

○Array: An ordered collection of values. Arrays can be indexed (using numeric

keys) or associative (using named keys).
○ Object: Instances of user-defined classes, encapsulating both data and
behavior.
3. Special Types:

○ NULL: A special type that represents a variable with no value.

○ Resource: A special variable that holds a reference to an external resource
(like a database connection). This type is typically used in PHP extensions
and not often manipulated directly in typical PHP scripts.

Example Code:

<?php
// Scalar Types
$integer = 10; // Integer
$float = 3.14; // Float
$string = "Hello, PHP!"; // String
$bool = true; // Boolean

// Compound Types
$array = array(1, 2, 3); // Indexed Array
$assocArray = array("name" => "Alice", "age" => 25); // Associative Array

class Person {
public $name;
public $age;
}
$object = new Person(); // Object
$object->name = "Bob";
$object->age = 30;
// Special Types
$nullVar = null; // NULL

// Resources are typically created by functions such as fopen() for files.

$fileHandle = fopen("example.txt", "r"); // Resource

// Always close resources when done

if (is_resource($fileHandle)) {
fclose($fileHandle);
}
?>

Key Points to Remember:

● Dynamic Typing: PHP automatically converts variable types based on the assigned
value.
● Type Juggling: PHP can change the type of a variable during execution when
necessary.
● Usage: Understanding these data types is essential for effective PHP programming,
as they determine how data is stored, manipulated, and interacted with in your code.

This answer covers the main data types in PHP with definitions, examples, and key points,
making it a solid response for a 4-mark question.

Data types in php -

- PHP is a dynamic typed language that means no type is
mentioned while initializing the values. Php offers several data
types which are the same as all other programming languages
like C, C++ & Java.
- It includes following types -
- Integer
- Float
- String
- Boolean
- Array

1) Integer -
- Integers are data types which store only positive and
negative values without any decimal points.
- Syntax -
$var_name = value;
- For Example-
<?php
$x = 5;

echo "X value is:", $x;

?>
- Here, x is variable which holds integer value 5
2) Float
- Floating values are data types which store decimal values
which can be either positive or negative.
- Syntax-
$var_name = value.decimal;
- For Example -
<?php

$x = 5.5;

echo "X value is:", $x;

?>

- Here, x is variable which holds float value 5.5

3) Strings-
- Strings datatypes are used to store any set of letters and
characters.
- Syntax -
$var_name = “value”;
- For example,
<?php
 $x = "Gautam";
echo "X value is:", $x;
?>
- Here, x is a variable which holds the string value Gautam.
4) Boolean -
- Boolean data types are used for binary operations; it has
2 values either “true” or “false”.
- Syntax -
$var_name = true/false;
- For example,
<?php
$x = true;
echo "X value is:", $x;
?>
Here, x is a variable which holds the boolean value true.

Different loops in php-

- The php offers many types of loops which execute the code
repeatedly.
- Some loops in php are listed below -
- For loop
- While loop
- Do-While loop
- For each loop

1) For Loop -
- It is a type of loop which is used when the user knows
how many iterations are needed.
- The for loop comes with initialization, condition,
increment or decrement.
- Syntax -
for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement) {
// statement
}
- For Example,
<?php
for($i=0; $i<5; $i++) {
echo $i . "<br>";
}
 ?>
- Here, the for loop will run 5 times from 0 till 4 and print
the values b/w 0 to 4.
2) While loop-
- It is a type of loop which is used till the condition of the
loop is true. This is helpful when the user wants to run
infinite loops and wants to stop at a particular condition.
- The while loop comes only with condition in its structure.
- Syntax-
while(condition) {
// statements
}
- For example,
<?php
$i=0;
while($i<5) {
echo $i . "<br>";
$i++;
}

?>

- Here the while loop will run 5 times from 0 to 4 and print
the values b/w 0 to 4
3) Do while-
- The Do..While loop is similar to a while loop but the only
difference is the condition is checked at the end.
- In this the first iteration will be done without any check.
- Syntax -
do {
//statements
} while(condition);
- For example,
<?php
$i=0;
do {
echo $i . "<br>";
$i++;
} while($i<5);

?>
 - Here, the do…while loop will run 5 times from 0 to 4 and
print the values b/w 0 to 4.
4) For each loop-
- The for each loop is similar to for loop but the only
difference is that it is used in iterables like arrays or
objects.
- Syntax-
foreach($iterable as $var_name) {
// statements
}
- For example,
<?php
$arr = [1, 2, 3];

foreach($arr as $x) {
echo $x . "<br>";
}
?>

Explain indexed & associative array with suitable example.

- In php the arrays are collections of values that store similar
data types.
- The types of arrays are as followed-
1) Indexed arrays
2) Associative arrays.
a) Indexed Arrays -
- These are the types of arrays that have numeric indices
where values are stored linearly.
- This type of array is used to store any type of element.
- By default, the index starts at 0 position and goes upto n.
- Syntax -
$arr_obj = array(val1, val2, val3, …, valn);
OR
$arr_obj = [val1, val2, val3, …, valn];
- For Example,
<?php
$arr = [1, 2, 3];
print_r($arr);
?>
 -
In this the “arr” variable is an array with 1,2 and 3 as
values. Then it will print those values.
b) Associative Arrays-
- These are the types of arrays that have strings or keys as
indices where values are not stored linearly.
- It also can store any type of element.
- Here, the string are defined by the user.
- Syntax -
$arr_obj = array(“key1” => val1,
“Key2” => val2,
“Keyn” => val3);
- For example-
<?php
$arr = ["Key1" => "Gautam", "Key2" => "Kartik"];
print_r($arr);
?>

State any 4 advantages-

OCEDS
1) Open Source & Free -
- PHP is freely available & making it cost - effective for web
development.
2) Cross Platform Compatibility -
- PHP supports multiple Operating systems such as Linux,
Windows, macOS.
3) Easy to Learn-
- PHP syntax is simple, similar to C and Java making it a
beginner friendly programming language.
4) Database Connectivity -
- PHP supports multiple databases like MySQL, SQLite,
PostgreSQL.
5) Support OOPS -
- PHP supports Object Oriented Programming concepts like
classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism.

- Foreach loop is used to iterate over arrays and objects. It

simplifies the process of accessing the elements.
 - For every counter of the loop an array element is assigned and
the next counter is shifted to the next element.

Class -
- A class is a blueprint or template which is used to create
objects. It defines properties(variables) and methods(function)
that describe the behaviour of the object.
- A class doesn’t hold any actual data but defines a structure to
create multiple instances(objects).
- A class is a fundamental concept of OOP.
Object -
- Objects are instances of class. Which contains the actual data
and can perform any sort of action using properties of the
class.
- Each object has its own property, but every object share
similar structure.