> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.syntblaze.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# PHP Multiplication Assignment
The `*=` operator is a combined multiplication assignment operator in PHP. It multiplies the current value of the left operand by the evaluated result of the right operand, and immediately assigns the resulting product back to the left operand.
```php theme={"dark"}
$variable *= expression;
```
This syntax is semantically identical to the expanded assignment operation:
```php theme={"dark"}
$variable = $variable * expression;
```
## Technical Mechanics
**Operand Requirements**
The left operand must be a valid variable reference (an l-value). The right operand can be any literal, variable, or complex expression that evaluates to a scalar value. Because assignment operators have right-to-left associativity and very low precedence, the entire right-hand expression is evaluated before the multiplication occurs.
```php theme={"dark"}
$a = 2;
$a *= 3 + 4; // Evaluates as $a = 2 * (3 + 4). $a becomes 14.
```
**Type Resolution**
The data type of the mutated left operand is determined dynamically based on the operands involved in the multiplication:
* **Integer (`int`):** Returned if both operands evaluate to integers and the resulting product does not exceed the platform's maximum integer limit (`PHP_INT_MAX`).
* **Floating-point (`float`):** Returned if either operand is a float, or if the product of two integers results in an integer overflow.
```php theme={"dark"}
$val = 5; // int
$val *= 2; // int(10)
$val *= 1.5; // float(15.0)
```
**Type Coercion (Type Juggling)**
If the operands are not strictly numeric, PHP's engine will attempt to coerce them into numbers before applying the operator:
* **Numeric Strings:** Strings containing valid numeric formats (e.g., `"5"`, `"2.5"`, `"1e3"`) are automatically cast to `int` or `float`.
* **Booleans:** `true` is cast to `1`, and `false` is cast to `0`.
* **Null:** `null` is cast to `0`.
* **Non-numeric Strings:** In PHP 8.0 and later, attempting to multiply by a non-numeric string (e.g., `"apple"`) throws a `TypeError`.
```php theme={"dark"}
$x = 10;
$x *= "3"; // $x becomes 30 (int)
$y = 5;
$y *= true; // $y becomes 5 (int)
$z = 8;
$z *= null; // $z becomes 0 (int)
```
## Return Value
Like all assignment operators in PHP, `*=` evaluates to the assigned value. This allows it to be chained or embedded within larger expressions, though this practice is generally discouraged for readability.
```php theme={"dark"}
$a = 2;
$b = ($a *= 5); // $a becomes 10, and $b is assigned 10
```
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