Which operator checks for value equality between two different data types in PHP?

The operator that checks for value equality between two different data types in PHP is the double equals sign (==). This operator compares the values of two variables but does not consider their types. If the values are equal, even if they are of different types, it will return true. For instance, comparing an integer and a string that represents the same number, such as 5 and '5', will yield true because both are effectively the same value when converted to a common type for comparison.

In contrast, the triple equals sign (===) checks for both value and type equality, meaning it will only return true if both the value and type match exactly. The !== operator checks for both value and type inequality, while the != operator checks for value inequality. Thus, choosing the correct operator for the intended comparison is crucial, especially when dealing with different data types in PHP.