Why are all single words in php strings
<p>So I came across this feature/bug today and I'm struggling to wrap my head around what is going on.</p>

<p>so we all know that in php this:</p>

<pre><code>echo 'hello';
print 'world';
echo gettype('test');
</code></pre>

<p>will return this:</p>

<pre><code>hello
world
string
</code></pre>

<p>However, until today I was unaware that this:</p>

<pre><code>echo hello;
print world;
echo gettype(hello);
</code></pre>

<p>will return this:</p>

<pre><code>hello
world
string
</code></pre>

<p>What is going on here?  What is happening in php's compilation process that it sees any single word as a string?  Does this have a name? Does it have any utility?</p>
