Using PHP’s max() Function to Find the Largest Value

The max() function in PHP returns the highest value among its arguments. When a single array is passed, it returns the largest element of that array; when multiple scalar values are supplied, it compares them and returns the greatest.

Signature

mixed max(array $values)

Parameters

values : an array containing multiple comparable values.

value1, value2, ... : any comparable scalar values (integers, strings, floats, etc.).

Return value

The function returns the maximum value among the provided arguments.

Examples

<?php
// Example with scalar values
echo max(1, 3, 5, 6, 7); // 7

// Example with a single array
echo max(array(2, 4, 5)); // 5

// Mixing integers and strings (string cast to int becomes 0)
echo max(0, 'hello'); // 0
echo max('hello', 0); // hello

// String compared with integer
echo max('42', 3); // '42'

// Negative number vs string
echo max(-1, 'hello'); // hello
?>

When multiple arrays of different lengths are compared, max() evaluates them element‑by‑element from left to right, returning the first array that is greater. Example:

$val = max(
    array(2, 2, 2),
    array(1, 1, 1, 1)
); // returns array(2, 2, 2)

$val = max(
    array(2, 4, 8),
    array(2, 5, 7)
); // returns array(2, 5, 7)

If both an array and a non‑array are supplied, the array is always considered larger, and the function returns the array.