title: Why does PHP have a $ sign in front of variables?
body: <p>In PHP and some other scripting languages have the <code>$var</code> syntax while Java and other languages we can do just <code>var</code>. </p>
  
  <p>Is there any theory behind it? Does it help them to parse. If not why would they choose to tack on an extra character in front?</p>