Local Scope

The local scope is the scope inside a function or method. The variables are contained within that scope, and are not available beyond it.

The opposite of local scope is the global scope.

<?php

function foo() {
    // $foo variable is only available in the foo scope
    $foo = 1;

    $closure = function () {
        // this scope is different from foo()
        // its definition is nested in the foo() function
        // but those are 2 distinct scopes
    };
}

function goo() {
    // $goo variable is only available in the goo scope
    $goo = 1;
}
?>

Documentation

Related : Scope, global Scope