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# is_scalar

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.5)

is_scalar -- Finds whether a variable is a scalar

## 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 or not scalar.

    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.

See also is_bool(), is_numeric(), is_float(), is_int(), is_real(), is_string(), is_object(), is_array(), and is_integer().

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