$a = 14;
echo $a . " : " . gettype($a) . "\n";
settype($a, "string");
echo $a . " " . gettype($a) . "\n\n";
$a = "489";
echo $a . " : " . gettype($a) . "\n";
settype($a, "integer");
echo $a . " : " . gettype($a) . "\n";
/*
run:
14 : integer
14 string
489 : string
489 : integer
*/