How can I display <? as text on a php page?

slevytam

Hi,

I have a sample script i want to display on a php page. In this script I have <? and ?> that need to be displayed. Problem is that the page goes haywire everytime I try. I am assuming this is because its reading the text as php code.

Could someone tell me how I can output <? as text without it being read as code.

Thanks !

Piranha

You just change it to entities codes instead. Look here to see what codes you need.

big_nerd

There are a couple methods:

<?php
echo "&lt;? Test ?&gt;";
// or
echo htmlspecialchars("<? Test ?>");
?>

If you are echoing it, it would display as "html" which means it won't show up on the page, and since it isn't closed i .e. <?> (having both LT and GT) text from the middle can go missing, as it is assuming it is a parameter.

If it is outside a php statement:

<?php
my_function();
echo "yay";
other_function();
?>
&lt? This is in between ?&gt;

If it still doesn't work post some code and I can help you.

slevytam

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I tried the < and it worked but i have more info in the code snippet that now screws up.

Here is what I am trying to add through a textfield. save into a mysql text field and then output.

cat <<EOT > /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Label</key>
<string>com.apple.ftpd</string>
<key>Program</key>
<string>/usr/libexec/ftpd</string>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>ftpd</string>
<string>-l</string>
</array>
<key>Sockets</key>
<dict>
<key>Listeners</key>
<dict>
<key>Bonjour</key>
<true/>
<key>SockServiceName</key>
<string>ftp</string>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>inetdCompatibility</key>
<dict>
<key>Wait</key>
<false/>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>
EOT

Any assistance would be appreciated !

Piranha

If you save it in a database you should use the method that big.nerd recommends:

echo htmlspecialchars("<? Test ?>");

You can use that on the whole string. And you should use it when you have retrieved it from the database, not before you store it. The data in the database should be the original data to allow it to be used in different applications.

When you save it in the database make sure that you are protected from sql injection / database injection (the same thing).