PHP 7 - Return Type Declarations

In PHP 7, a new feature, Return type declarations has been introduced. Return type declaration specifies the type of value that a function should return. Following types for return types can be declared.

• int
• float
• bool
• string
• interfaces
• array
• callable

Example - Valid Return Type

<?php
   declare(strict_types = 1);
   function returnIntValue(int $value): int {
      return $value;
   }
   print(returnIntValue(5));
?>

It produces the following browser output −

5

Example - Invalid Return Type

<?php
   declare(strict_types = 1);
   function returnIntValue(int $value): int {
      return $value + 1.0;
   }
   print(returnIntValue(5));
?>

It produces the following browser output −

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Return value of returnIntValue() must be of the type