PHP Reference

Description

bool is_scalar ( mixed var)

is_scalar() returns TRUE if the variable given by the var parameter is a scalar, otherwise it returns FALSE.

Scalar variables are those containing an integer, float, string or boolean. Types array, object and resource are not scalar.


<?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);

// prints: 3.1416



show_var($proteins)

// prints:

// array(3) {

//   [0]=>

//   string(10) "hemoglobin"

//   [1]=>

//   string(20) "cytochrome c oxidase"

//   [2]=>

//   string(10) "ferredoxin"

// }

?>

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.