PHP is a widely-used server-side scripting language that brings interactivity and dynamism to websites and blogs. Understanding its fundamentals is essential for anyone who wants to develop effective, efficient, and engaging web applications.
This blog dives into three core areas of PHP: variables, data types, and control structures, offering both clear definitions and practical code examples you can use right away.

Variables:
A variable in PHP acts as a storage container for data that your scripts use and change as they run. You create variables using the dollar sign ($), and they can hold all sorts of information—from numbers and text to arrays and objects. Variables make your code flexible and reusable.

Example:

$username = "blogger101";
$postCount = 12;

Data Types:
PHP supports a variety of data types, each serving a distinct purpose in your application:

String: A sequence of characters, useful for storing names, messages, or any text.
Example:

$siteName = "My Blogging Website";

• Integer: Whole numbers without decimals, which you might use for counts, IDs, or math operations.
  Example:

$views = 1500;

• Float/Double: Numbers with decimals, perfect for percentages or prices.
  Example:

$rating = 4.7;

• Boolean: Logical data that’s either true or false, often used for switches and conditions.
  Example:

$isPublished = true;

• Array: A collection for holding multiple values in one variable, like a list of blog categories.
  Example:

$categories = array("PHP", "HTML", "CSS", "JavaScript");

Control Structures:
Control structures bring logic and versatility to your code, allowing it to make decisions and perform repetitive actions. The most commonly used structures in PHP include:

• If-Else Statements: Let your script choose different actions based on different conditions.
  Example:

if ($isPublished) {
   echo "This post is live.";
} else {
   echo "This post is still in draft.";
}

• Switch Statements: Simplify multiple condition checks, especially useful for handling menu navigation or user roles.
  Example:

switch ($role) {
   case "admin":
       echo "Welcome, Admin!";
       break;
   case "editor":
       echo "Editor access granted.";
       break;
   default:
       echo "Guest access.";
}

• Loops (For, While): Execute a block of code several times, great for displaying lists such as blog posts or comments.
  Example:

for ($i = 0; $i < count($categories); $i++) {
   echo $categories[$i] . "<br>";
}