Converting is something that all programmers have to encounter early on their career path. However, not all of us have the chance to learn this basic skill.

That is why there are still so many people confused about how to convert PHP int to string. We hope that our article can help you somewhat with this issue.

How to convert Int to String in PHP

Using Inline Variable Parsing

The quickest solution to this problem is to make use of PHP’s automatic converting nature. When a string uses an integer variable in its display, that variable’s type will be converted to string without any outside interference.

In other words, you just need to call the integer value in a string, and it will automatically become a string type. It’s as easy as converting a dict to string.

This method is incredibly easy to grasp and convenient when you just want a quick converting process. However, it can only change the variable’s type temporarily. You will need other methods if you want the change to stick.

Let’s take a small example:

<?php
   $variable = 15;
   echo "Convert int to string in PHP: $variable.";
?>

The output of this example is:

Convert int to string in PHP: 15

Using strval()

PHP has an integrated function called strval(), which will turn any variable type into a string. This function only accepts one input parameter, the variable itself.

Let’s take a small example:

<?php 
$int1 = 5; 
$stringTest = strval($int1); 
echo "The new converted string value is $stringTest."; 
?>

The output of this example is:

The new converted string value is 5

This function makes a new variable with the same value as the old one. As a result, you get both the int version and the string version, which can be very helpful in most circumstances.

Using Explicit Casting

Explicit casting is a technique that allows the user to convert any data type to a new one in a manual way. As a result, it obviously can help you convert int to string.

Let’s take the previous example:

<?php 
$int1 = 5; 
$stringTest = (string) $int1; 
echo "The new converted string value is $stringTest."; 
?>

As you can see, this method functions basically the same way as the strval() method. It also keeps the original value intact for further use. Yet, it does have higher versatility, as its output isn’t restricted to purely string.

Using String Concatenation

String concatenation is a familiar technique for most programmers, no matter the language. After all, joining 2 strings together is a need that we all must face on a regular basis.

Using its absolute nature, you can quickly turn an int value into a string by adding the variable to it. The result of this process is a new string having that variable turned into a string.

<?php 
$int1 = 5; 
echo "The new converted string value is ".$int1.".";
?>

Conclusion

This article has brought to you the four best ways to convert PHP int to string. Each solution has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. 

For example, Inline Variable Parsing is the quickest, but it doesn’t keep the result. On the other hand, Explicit Casting has the highest ceiling with its incredible variety, but it requires some time to familiarize yourself.