What are the differences between string and float data types in PHP when working with numbers?

When working with numbers in PHP, it is important to differentiate between string and float data types. Strings are sequences of characters, while floats are used to represent decimal numbers. When performing mathematical operations, it is crucial to use float data types to ensure accurate results. To convert a string to a float in PHP, you can use the `floatval()` function.

// Convert a string to a float
$stringNumber = "3.14";
$floatNumber = floatval($stringNumber);

echo $floatNumber; // Output: 3.14