1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
PHP Variables Scope
❮ Previous Next ❯
PHP Variables Scope
In PHP, variables can be declared anywhere in the script.
The scope of a variable is the part of the script where the variable can be
referenced/used.
PHP has three different variable scopes:
local
global
static
Global and Local Scope
A variable declared outside a function has a GLOBAL SCOPE and can only be accessed
outside a function:
Example Get your own PHP Server
Variable with global scope:
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 1/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
$x = Tutorials
5; // global
scope
Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
function
HTML CSS myTest() {
JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
// using x inside this function will generate an error
ADVERTISEMENT
echo "<p>Variable x inside function is: $x</p>";
}
myTest();
echo "<p>Variable x outside function is: $x</p>";
Try it Yourself »
A variable declared within a function has a LOCAL SCOPE and can only be accessed
within that function:
Example
Variable with local scope:
function myTest() {
$x = 5; // local scope
echo "<p>Variable x inside function is: $x</p>";
}
myTest();
// using x outside the function will generate an error
echo "<p>Variable x outside function is: $x</p>";
Try it Yourself »
You can have local variables with the same name in different functions, because local
variables are only recognized by the function in which they are declared.
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 2/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
ADVERTISEMENT
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
Own Your Deck Today.
Choose your god and pick your strategy in Gods Unchained. Open
PHP The global Keyword
The global keyword is used to access a global variable from within a function.
To do this, use the global keyword before the variables (inside the function):
Example
$x = 5;
$y = 10;
function myTest() {
global $x, $y;
$y = $x + $y;
}
myTest();
echo $y; // outputs 15
Try it Yourself »
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 3/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
PHP also stores all global variables in an array called $GLOBALS[index] . The index
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
holds the name of the variable. This array is also accessible from within functions and
can be used to update global variables directly.
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
The example above can be rewritten like this:
ADVERTISEMENT
Example
$x = 5;
$y = 10;
function myTest() {
$GLOBALS['y'] = $GLOBALS['x'] + $GLOBALS['y'];
}
myTest();
echo $y; // outputs 15
Try it Yourself »
PHP The static Keyword
Normally, when a function is completed/executed, all of its variables are deleted.
However, sometimes we want a local variable NOT to be deleted. We need it for a further
job.
To do this, use the static keyword when you first declare the variable:
Example
function myTest() {
static $x = 0;
echo $x;
$x++;
}
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 4/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
myTest();
myTest();
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
myTest();
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
Try it Yourself »
Then, each time the function is called, that variable will still have the information it
contained from the last time the function was called.
Note: The variable is still local to the function.
PHP Exercises
Test Yourself With Exercises
Exercise:
Create a variable named txt and assign the value "Hello" .
= " ";
Submit Answer »
Start the Exercise
❮ Previous Log in to track progress Next ❯
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 5/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
ADVERTISEMENT
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 6/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
COLOR PICKER
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 7/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
HTML
CSS
SPACES
JAVASCRIPT SQL
UPGRADE
PYTHON JAVA
AD-FREE
PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWSLETTER GET CERTIFIED REPORT ERROR
Top Tutorials Top References
HTML Tutorial HTML Reference
CSS Tutorial CSS Reference
JavaScript Tutorial JavaScript Reference
How To Tutorial SQL Reference
SQL Tutorial Python Reference
Python Tutorial W3.CSS Reference
W3.CSS Tutorial Bootstrap Reference
Bootstrap Tutorial PHP Reference
PHP Tutorial HTML Colors
Java Tutorial Java Reference
C++ Tutorial Angular Reference
jQuery Tutorial jQuery Reference
Top Examples Get Certified
HTML Examples HTML Certificate
CSS Examples CSS Certificate
JavaScript Examples JavaScript Certificate
How To Examples Front End Certificate
SQL Examples SQL Certificate
Python Examples Python Certificate
W3.CSS Examples PHP Certificate
Bootstrap Examples jQuery Certificate
PHP Examples Java Certificate
Java Examples C++ Certificate
XML Examples C# Certificate
jQuery Examples XML Certificate
FORUM ABOUT
W3Schools is optimized for learning and training. Examples might be simplified to
improve reading and learning.
Tutorials, references, and examples are constantly reviewed to avoid errors, but we
cannot warrant full correctness
of all content. While using W3Schools, you agree to have read and accepted our terms of
use, cookie and privacy policy.
Copyright 1999-2024 by Refsnes Data. All Rights Reserved. W3Schools is Powered by
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 8/9
1/23/24, 11:44 PM PHP Variables Scope
W3.CSS.
Tutorials Exercises Services Sign Up Log in
HTML
CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON JAVA PHP HOW TO W3.CSS C
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables_scope.asp 9/9
