Variable handling Functions
PHP Manual

is_scalar

Finds whether a variable is a scalar

Description

bool is_scalar(mixed $value)

Finds whether an expression is evaluated as a scalar value.

See scalar types for more information.

Note:

is_scalar does not consider resource type values to be scalar as resources are abstract datatypes which are currently based on integers. This implementation detail should not be relied upon, as it may change.

Note:

is_scalar does not consider NULL to be scalar.

Parameters

value

The variable being evaluated.

Return Values

Returns true if value is a scalar, false otherwise.

Examples

Example #1 is_scalar example

<?php
function show_var($var) 
{
    if (is_scalar($var)) {
        echo $var;
    } else {
        var_dump($var);
    }
}
$pi = 3.1416;
$proteins = array("hemoglobin", "cytochrome c oxidase", "ferredoxin");

show_var($pi);
show_var($proteins)

?>

The above example will output:

3.1416
array(3) {
  [0]=>
  string(10) "hemoglobin"
  [1]=>
  string(20) "cytochrome c oxidase"
  [2]=>
  string(10) "ferredoxin"
}

See Also

  • is_float
  • is_int
  • is_numeric
  • is_real
  • is_string
  • is_bool
  • is_object
  • is_array