What does the `gettype()` function return in PHP?

The gettype() function in PHP returns the type of a variable as a string. This function evaluates the variable passed to it and provides the type information, such as whether the variable is an integer, string, array, object, or any other data type defined in PHP. This can be particularly useful for debugging or when you need to check the type of data before performing operations on it, ensuring that the code behaves as expected based on the variable's type. Using gettype(), developers can dynamically assess the properties of their variables during runtime, enhancing error handling and type checking within their applications.