Understanding PHP tags (<?php ?>)
In PHP web development, script tags are used to create PHP web scripts and to start and execute PHP source code on a web server, where the web server starts and ends the PHP code. The two most common tags used by PHP web developers in PHP web development are <?php ?> and <?= ?>. Generally, PHP tags are built-in syntax or fixed code for running PHP scripts. They help you transition from development to execution of your PHP source code.
So, let’s take a closer look at the role of PHP tags in PHP web development.
Standard PHP script tag (<?php ?>)
It is a popular tag used to directly insert or embed PHP web development script source code into the HTML markup language.
<?php
// You can write PHP code in this block
?>
Explanation of the Standard PHP script tag.
- <?php – This is the start tag in a PHP web development script, used to initiate or process PHP source code on the current web server.
- ?> – This is the close or stop tag in a PHP web development script, used to terminate or process PHP script source code on the installed web server.
In a PHP web development script, developers can create any PHP source code, such as function declarations, variable declarations, program loops, and conditional logic, etc. Finally, the result output of the PHP web development script code is displayed in the web browser.
Example of a standard PHP script tag.
<?php
echo “Welcome to vcahelpsu programming”;
?>
The result of this PHP web development script will be “Welcome to vcahelpsu programming”
Small PHP script echo tag (<?= ?>).
The use of the short echo tag in PHP web development scripts is a shortened version of the echo PHP statement. This PHP format is commonly used when a PHP developer wants to display a value as output on a web browser screen.
<?= “Welcome to vcahelpsu programming” ?>
It works similarly to the code below in PHP web development, except it’s slightly smaller in size, making it easier for PHP users to use.
<?php
echo “php is a popular web development script”;
?>
Why use the <?= ?> format in PHP web development?
This is a short format or method for every PHP web developer to display a text statement directly in output without having to write an echo statement.
This format or method is used in particular formats where a PHP web developer needs to print only values or numeric characters, such as program variables or conditional expressions, in an HTML script.
Example of a small PHP script echo tag (<?= ?>).
<?php $emp_name = “Siddhi Deora”; ?>
<p>Hi, <?= $emp_name ?>, How Are you</p>
The result of this PHP script will be – “Hi, Siddhi Deora, How Are you”
Use of alternative PHP tag syntax (<? and ?>).
PHP web developers can use slightly different PHP tags in some particular situations.
<?
// you can see or display some PHP syntax code like
?>
This is a short PHP tag version. It works depending on whether the web server configuration installed on your system supports short PHP tags. Generally, these short PHP tags should not be used in PHP web development, as these short PHP tags are not fully compatible with all web servers.
Other Popular PHP Script Tags.
PHP web developers can use other PHP tag formats, which are less commonly used by PHP web developers.
<?php without PHP closing tag: Technically, automatic closing ?> This method is written without the PHP closing tag. This is especially true in particular situations where the developer’s PHP source code file is the complete content. Here, the developer omits the PHP closing tag, which allows the PHP web developer to avoid possible errors such as sending empty spaces or newlines after the PHP code.
<?php
echo “Welcome to PHP web development script”;
// Please note that we are not using any closing tag, which is nothing following the PHP code.
php XML syntax (<?xml ?>) – XML documents in PHP web development scripts allow developers to display processing instructions for the program source code in the XML script language, which are fully previewed like PHP tags, but are used to define specific behaviour for the XML parser.
Key points of PHP web development script tags.
- <?php ?> – This is a standard built-in tag in PHP web development scripts, and it is mostly used in PHP web development script files.
- <?= ?> – The echo tag is a short format in PHP web development scripts, it is generally used to display a numeric value directly as output in web development scripts.
- A new PHP web developer should not use short tags in development scripts, especially in small PHP web development scripts, as it is not universally compatible with all existing web servers.
