PHP Coding Style

[Anon]

Hello,

I'm new to PHP and I was just wondering what the difference is between the following pieces of code:

<?php include ("header.php"); ?>
<b>PHP Rocks!!</b>
<?php include ("footer.php"); ?>

• and -

<?php
include ("header.php");
print "<b>PHP Rocks!!</b>";
include ("footer.php");
?>

Both of the snippets produce the same result, so I'm just wondering why many people use the first style verses the second style.

[Anon]

It depends on what else is between the 2 includes, if all html, then I would use the first, if you have other PHP between then I use the second.

If however it is just these few lines I would probably do it this way:

<?
include("header.php");
echo "PHP Rocks!!";
include("footer.php");
?>

I believe with print you need ("PHP Rocks!!"); with the ()

moonie 😉

[Anon]

Would it be ok if I just did the following:

<?php
include ("header.php");
/ many lines of php/html code here with the html being printed using the print function /
include ("footer.php");
?>

Well, I guess where I'm trying to get at is this: is it ok to have just one '<?php' command at the beginning of the file and one '?>' command at the end of the file with the html being printed out in the middle using a print or echo function?

[Anon]

yes it will work just fine, but it can get confusing. I have found that creating functions for complex php code works better especially when you run into formating problems. This works great when you are repeating lines of php code inside of tables.

moonie 😉