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