Operators in PHP help you perform different types of tasks and functions on data. We have already used arithmetic operators in PHP Mathematics lesson. In the following lines, we take a look at the main types of operators in PHP.
Arithmetic Operators
These operators enable you to perform mathematical operations in PHP. Following is a complete list of arithmetic operators.
Let suppose we have two variables, $num1 and $num2 with values of 5 and 10 respectively. 5 and 10 in this example are known as operands.
| Operator | Description | Example |
| + | Adds two operands | $num1 + $num2 will give 15 |
| – | Subtracts second operand from the first one | $num1 – $num2 will give -5 |
| * | Multiply the two operands | $num1 * $num2 will give 50 |
| / | Divide numerator by de-numerator | $num2 / $num1 will give 2 |
| % | Modulus Operator and remainder of after an integer division | $num2 % $num1 will give 0 |
| ++ | Increment operator, increases integer value by one | $num1 ++ will give 6 |
| — | Decrement operator decreases integer value by one | $num1 — will give 4 |
Comparison Operators
Comparison operators help you compare two values or statements in PHP. There are quite a few comparison operators in PHP.
Let suppose we have two variables, $num1 and $num2, with values of 5 and 10 respectively.
| Operator | Description | Example |
| == | Determines if the values of two operands are equal or not. If yes, then the condition becomes true. | ($num1 == $num2) is not true. |
| != | Verifies if the values of two operands are equal or not. The condition becomes true if values are not equal. | ($num1 != $num2) is true. |
| > | Verifies if the value of the left operand is greater than the value of right operand. If yes, then condition becomes true. | ($num1 > $num2) is not true. |
| < | Verifies if the value of the left operand is less than the value of right operand. If yes, then condition becomes true. | ($num1 < $num2) is true. |
| >= | Verifies if the value of the left operand is greater than or equal to the value of right operand. If yes then condition becomes true. | ($num1 >= $num2) is not true. |
| <= | Checks if the value of the left operand is less than or equal to the value of right operand, if yes then condition becomes true. | (A <= B) is true. |
Assignment Operators
As the name suggests, we use assignment operators to assign values to variables and arrays. Here is a complete list of assignment operators in PHP.
Let suppose we have two variables, $num1 and $num2, with values of 5 and 10 respectively.
| Operator | Description | Example |
| = | Assigns values from right side operands to left side operand | $num3 = $num1 + $num2 will assign value of $num1 + $num2 into C |
| += | Add AND assignment operator, It adds right operand to the left operand and assign the result to left operand | $num3 += $num1 is equivalent to $num3 = $num3 + $num1 |
| -= | Subtract AND assignment operator, It subtracts right operand from the left operand and assign the result to left operand | $num3 -= $num1 is equivalent to $num3 = $num3 – $num1 |
| *= | Multiply AND assignment operator, It multiplies right operand with the left operand and assign the result to left operand | $num3 *= $num1 is equivalent to $num3 = $num3 * $num1 |
| /= | Divide AND assignment operator, It divides left operand with the right operand and assign the result to left operand | $num3 /= $num1 is equivalent to $num3 = $num3 / $num1 |
| %= | Modulus AND assignment operator, It takes modulus using two operands and assign the result to left operand | $num3 %= $num1 is equivalent to $num3 = $num3 % $num1 |
Logical Operators
Logical operators check whether or not a condition is true.
Let suppose we have two variables, $num1 and $num1, with values of 5 and 10 respectively.
| Operator | Description | Example |
| and | Called Logical AND operator. The condition becomes true if both the operands are true. | ($num1 and $num1) is true. |
| or | Called Logical OR Operator. The condition becomes true if any of the two operands are non-zero | ($num1 or $num1) is true. |
| && | Called Logical AND operator. The condition becomes true if both the operands are non-zero | ($num1 && $num1) is true. |
| || | Called Logical OR Operator. The condition becomes true if any of the two operands are non-zero | ($num1 || $num1) is true. |
| ! | Called Logical NOT Operator. Use to reverses the logical state of its operand. If a condition is true then Logical NOT operator will make false. | !( $num1 && $num1) is false. |
In the next lesson, we will study Decision Making or Conditional Statements in PHP.
