PHP already has gettype() for getting type of a php variable. But It is kinda outdated. It returns type name that defined in PHP 5 era. In PHP 7, type system has improved much. To reflect that improved types, PHP 8 has introduced a new function get_debug_type() . It returns native type names and also resolves class names.

But, how is it any different from gettype()?

Lets find out with code...

$int = 1;

gettype($int);
// "integer"

get_debug_type($int);
// "int"

$float = 1.2;

gettype($float);
// "double"

get_debug_type($float);
// "float"

For historical reasons, gettype() returns double for float type. get_debug_type() returns the right type name.

$string = 'text';

gettype($string);
// "string"

get_debug_type($string);
// "string"

$bool = true;

gettype($bool);
// "boolean"

get_debug_type($bool);
// "bool"

$null = null;

gettype($null);
// "NULL"

get_debug_type($null);
// "null"

$array = [];

gettype($array);
// "array"

get_debug_type($array);
// "array"

$class = new stdClass();

gettype($class);
// "object"

get_debug_type($class);
// "stdClass"

get_debug_type() resolves class name for you automatically. Output will be identical to get_class().

$anonymousClass = new Class{};

gettype($anonymousClass);
// "object"

get_debug_type($anonymousClass);
// "class@anonymous"

get_debug_type() also reports anonymous class correctly.

$resource = tmpfile();

gettype($resource);
// "resource"

get_debug_type($resource);
// resource (stream)

As we can see, get_debug_type() also reports the type of the resource. If the resource is closed, it will return "resource (closed)"

Why do we need get_debug_type() ?

information about type of a variable can be needed for several task. It can be used for :

• debugging
• error reporting
• business logic

Yes, I have seen usage of type of a variable to execute some business logic. Such usage is common in weakly typed projects (read legacy project).