(PHP 5, PHP 7)
variant_get_type — Returns the type of a variant object
variantThe variant object.
   This function returns an integer value that indicates the type of
   variant, which can be an instance of
   COM, DOTNET or
   VARIANT classes.  The return value can be compared
   to one of the VT_XXX constants.
  
   The return value for COM and DOTNET objects will usually be
   VT_DISPATCH; the only reason this function works for
   those classes is because COM and DOTNET are descendants of VARIANT.
  
   In PHP versions prior to 5, you could obtain this information from
   instances of the VARIANT class ONLY, by reading a fake
   type property.  See the VARIANT class for more information on
   this.