Variable

Meaning

A variable is a named container that stores a value so a program can use it later. In PHP a variable name starts with a dollar sign, and the manual states that the name is case-sensitive, so a name in capitals is a different variable from the same name in small letters. PHP does not make you declare a type in advance; the type follows the value. Choose descriptive names such as a customer name or a total amount instead of single letters. See also: Data type, Array, and the guide PHP Variables, Data Types and Control Flow for Beginners.