What Is the Range of Int Data Type in PHP?

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Larry Thompson

What Is the Range of Int Data Type in PHP?

In PHP, the int data type is used to represent whole numbers. It stands for ‘integer’ and can hold both positive and negative values.

Int Data Type in PHP

When working with numbers in PHP, it’s important to understand the range of values that can be stored in an int variable. The range of the int data type depends on the platform and the version of PHP being used.

32-bit Systems

In 32-bit systems, which are commonly found on older machines or some shared hosting environments, the range of the int data type is typically from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647.

  • The minimum value is represented by the constant PHP_INT_MIN.
  • The maximum value is represented by the constant PHP_INT_MAX.

If a value exceeds this range, it will be automatically converted to a float data type.

64-bit Systems

In modern 64-bit systems, which are commonly found on newer machines and most server setups, the range of the int data type is significantly larger. It typically spans from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

  • The minimum value remains as PHP_INT_MIN.
  • The maximum value remains as PHP_INT_MAX.

With this extended range, you can work with much larger numbers without encountering overflow or conversion issues.

Checking the Range of an Int Value

If you are unsure about the range of a specific integer value, you can use the is_int() function to check if it falls within the supported range for the current system. This function returns true if the value is within the range, and false otherwise.

Here’s an example:


$number = 1234567890;

if (is_int($number)) {
    echo "The number is within the range of int data type.";
} else {
    echo "The number exceeds the range of int data type.";
}

This code snippet checks if $number is an integer and prints a corresponding message based on whether it falls within the supported range or not.

Conclusion

The int data type in PHP allows you to work with whole numbers. The maximum and minimum values that can be stored in an int variable depend on whether you’re using a 32-bit or 64-bit system. Understanding these ranges is essential for avoiding overflow or conversion issues when dealing with integers in PHP.

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