php variable datatypes

Question

I've just decided to venture off into PHP land for fun and to learn, reading that php is loosely typed and that $var's can be reused is this true that the code below will pose no problem?

$x = 996;
$x = mysql_query("SELECT aString FROM table1");

the variable x will stored as an int datatype with 996, then after the second line it will stored as a string datatype with the string from the query?

There wont be any casting errors?

Answer 1

You are correct; that's the definition of being "loosely typed". However, that may not be the best practice.

http://drupaler.co.uk/blog/baby-dont-you-loose-your-type-me/66 is a good read on your subject.

Answer 2

There will be no errors, except that the second line won't give you a string, mysql_query returns an internal PHP type called a resource (generally some kind of opaque handle/pointer for library functions)

Answer 3

There wont be any casting errors?

Correct!

jalf explained it well here