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Assignment Operators

Introduction to Assignment Operators in PHP​

Assignment operators in PHP are used to assign values to variables. They are a fundamental part of any PHP program, and understanding how they work is crucial for any beginner learning PHP.

Basic Assignment Operator​

The basic assignment operator in PHP is the = sign. This operator assigns the value on the right to the variable on the left. For example:

$var = 20;

In this example, the integer 20 is assigned to the variable $var.

Combined Assignment Operators​

In addition to the basic assignment operator, PHP also includes combined assignment operators that perform an operation and an assignment at the same time. These operators can make your code more concise and easier to read. Here is a list of the combined assignment operators in PHP:

  • +=: Addition assignment. Adds the value of the right operand to the variable and assigns the result to the variable.
$var = 10;
$var += 20; // $var is now 30
  • -=: Subtraction assignment. Subtracts the value of the right operand from the variable and assigns the result to the variable.
$var = 30;
$var -= 20; // $var is now 10
  • *=: Multiplication assignment. Multiplies the variable by the value of the right operand and assigns the result to the variable.
$var = 10;
$var *= 2; // $var is now 20
  • /=: Division assignment. Divides the variable by the value of the right operand and assigns the result to the variable.
$var = 20;
$var /= 2; // $var is now 10
  • .=: Concatenation assignment. Joins the variable and the value of the right operand and assigns the result to the variable.
$var = "Hello";
$var .= " World!"; // $var is now "Hello World!"

Conclusion​

Assignment operators are an essential part of PHP programming, allowing you to manipulate variables in various ways. Understanding and using these operators effectively can help you write more concise and efficient code. Practice using different assignment operators to become more familiar with their functionality and to enhance your PHP skills.