PHP - Syntax

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a powerful scripting language designed for web development. Understanding its syntax is essential for writing efficient and effective PHP code. In this blog, we will explore the basics of PHP syntax, including how to write PHP scripts, the structure of PHP code, and essential programming rules.

Basic PHP Syntax

PHP code can be embedded directly into HTML code using the PHP tags <?php and ?>. The PHP interpreter processes the code within these tags. Here is an example of a simple PHP script embedded in HTML:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>PHP Syntax Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <?php
        echo "Hello, World!";
    ?>
</body>
</html>

PHP Tags

PHP code must be enclosed within one of the following sets of tags:

Standard PHP Tags

These are the most commonly used PHP tags and are recommended for maximum compatibility.

<?php
    echo "This is a standard PHP tag.";
?>

Short PHP Tags

These tags are shorter but require the short_open_tag directive to be enabled in the php.ini configuration file.

<? 
    echo "This is a short PHP tag."; 
?>

ASP-Style Tags

ASP-style tags are similar to tags used in ASP (Active Server Pages) and require the asp_tags directive to be enabled in the php.ini configuration file.

<%
    echo "This is an ASP-style PHP tag.";
%>

Script Tags

These tags are less common but can be used in PHP code. They resemble HTML script tags.

<script language="php">
    echo "This is a script tag.";
</script>

PHP Statements and Semicolons

Each PHP statement must end with a semicolon (;). The semicolon is a crucial part of PHP syntax as it indicates the end of a statement. Here is an example:

<?php
    $greeting = "Hello, World!";
    echo $greeting;
?>