Convert Variable From String To Float In PHP

In this article, we will be exploring how to convert a variable from string to float in PHP. This basic data type manipulation is integral in dealing with numbers in string format while performing mathematical computations.

Code snippet

Here is a simple PHP code snippet for converting a string into a float:

<?php
$strVar = "34.87";
$floatVar = (float)$strVar;

echo $floatVar;
?>

Code Explanation

The PHP script above outlines a seamless approach to convert a string variable ($strVar) into a float.

In the first line, a string variable $strVar is defined with the value “34.87”. This is essentially a string containing a number.

$strVar = "34.87";

The magic happens in the second line - this is where we’re converting the string to a float. In PHP, casting a string to float can be done by prefixing the variable with (float). So, $floatVar = (float)$strVar; converts the string variable into a float variable.

$floatVar = (float)$strVar;

Finally, the echo statement is used to output the value of the $floatVar variable. If the variable casting was successful, the $floatVar will now hold the float value 34.87 instead of the string “34.87”.

echo $floatVar;

With this, we’ve successfully converted a string into a float in PHP. This process is crucial when handling numeric data that might be passed as a string but should be processed as a numerical value, such as user input or information taken from a database.