Which if statement syntax in PHP is cleaner and easier to read?

Understanding the Syntax of if Statement Variants

In PHP, the if statement allows for two syntax variations:

• if () { }: This classic syntax uses curly braces to enclose the code that executes if the condition is true.
• if (): endif;: This variation utilizes the syntax inspired by languages like Python and Java.

Comparison of the Variants

Despite their different appearances, these syntax variants are essentially equivalent. The only notable difference lies in the potential for cleaner code organization when using the latter syntax.

Advantages of the if (): endif; Variant

For instance, in MVC frameworks like Zend Framework, echo statements are commonly used to output HTML elements. When writing code in .phtml files, the if (): endif; syntax allows you to avoid the need for repetitive echo statements.

Consider this example:

<?php if($this->value): ?>
Hello
<?php elseif($this->asd): ?>
Your name is: <?= $this->name ?>
<?php else: ?>
You don't have a name.
<?php endif; ?>

In this code, the alternate branch conditions and end of the if statement are demarcated by colons and semi-colons. This syntax results in cleaner and easier-to-read code, particularly in scenarios where multiple conditional branches are present.

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