casting - Typecasting vs function to convert variable type in PHP -

is there difference between typecasting , using function convert variable type?

(float)$var vs. floatval($var)

if there are, when 1 of should used instead of other?

there's no difference in resulting value, just:

• (float) language feature , quick
• floatval() incurs overhead of function call (minimal, nonetheless...)
• floatval() function can used in ways (float) cannot, e.g. array_map('floatval', $foo)

the last point is, believe, main reason floatval's existence: each casting operation has function equivalent, can useful in circumstances.