Using echo and print to display output
PHP web developers can use both the echo and print statements to display the output of PHP program source code logic written in a webpage created in a PHP web development script. While the echo and print statements work in parallel in PHP web development, there are slight differences in their usage or working order.
So, let’s take a closer look at the uses of both the echo and print statements in PHP web development scripts.
echo PHP Statement.
The echo statement is a fixed statement in PHP web development scripts for displaying PHP web source code in a language or web browser. It is not a function, meaning that PHP web developers don’t need brackets to pass a numeric value to echo, but PHP web developers can do so if needed.
While the echo statement can accept multiple program input parameters separated by a comma operator, it is generally used within a single logic.
Remember, the echo statement does not return a value; it only displays the output of the created digital content on a PHP webpage.
The syntax of the echo PHP Statement.
echo “Welcome to PHP web development”;
PHP web developers can also pass multiple arguments to the echo statement.
echo “Welcome”, ” “, “to”, ” “, “php”, “development”;
Example of an echo PHP statement.
<?php
echo “Hi, welcome to the PHP world”; // Result – Hi, welcome to the PHP world
?>
print PHP Statement.
The print statement is a statement in PHP web development scripts to display the output of PHP source code in a language or a web browser. The print statement cannot accept multiple arguments or arguments like the echo statement. The print statement only accepts a single parameter.
Whereas the print statement always returns the value 1. Which is slightly different from the eco statement.
The syntax of the print PHP Statement.
print “Welcome to the World of, web development with php”;
Example of a PHP print statement.
<?php
print “Php is a dynamic, web development script”; // Result – Php is a dynamic, web development script
Example of combined use of PHP echo and print.
<?php
//let display php statement with echo statement in php
echo “you see text display with echo,”, “statement in php”; // Result – you see text display with echo, statement in php
echo “\n”;
//let display php statement with print statement in php
print “you see text display with print, statement in php”; // Result – you see text display with print, statement in php
What are the main Key Differences Between echo and print php statement.
| Feature | Echo php statement | Print php statement |
| Return Value type | Where echo statement does not return anything. | Where print php statement Always returns 1value. |
| Parameters input | Echo php statement Can take multiple parameters according to need. | Here print php statement Can only take one parameter or argument. |
| Usage nature | Echo php statement Typically used when you need to outputting multiple values. | Here print php statement Often used in situations, where a return value might be needed. |
| Speed or Performance | Echo statement is Slightly faster, as it does not return a value according. | Here print php statement is Slightly slower due to the its return value type. |
When to use the echo and print statements in PHP web development scripts?
Use the echo statement in a PHP web development script when a PHP web developer needs to output multiple statement values, or when a PHP web developer wants to print multiple statements at once.
Use the print PHP web development script when a PHP web developer needs to output a numeric value and wants to use 1 as a possible return value in subsequent logic.
Example of returning a value using the print PHP statement.
<?php
$output = print “Welcome to, the PHP World”; // Result – $output variable will be holding the value 1
echo”\n”;
echo $output; // Result – 1
?>
In the PHP web development framework, programs can generally use both the echo and print statements for output purposes, with the end use depending on the PHP web developer’s choice.
