Should You Omit the Closing PHP Tag?

Omitting the Closing PHP Tag: Are You Missing Out?

Many scripts seem to forgo using the closing PHP tag (?>). Why is this practice prevalent, and should you adopt it as well?

Reasons for Omitting the Closing Tag

Omitting the closing tag is a common technique employed to prevent any unwanted characters from appearing at the end of a file. If any characters are appended after the closing tag, it can disrupt the script's execution, particularly if it involves modifying header information later on.

Benefits of Omitting the Closing Tag

• Error prevention: Removes the risk of terminating the script prematurely due to unintended characters.
• Clean code: Eliminates potential whitespace or other trailing content that can affect the file's readability.

Guidelines and Recommendations

While omitting the closing tag is considered "good practice" according to some coding guidelines, it's important to note that it's not mandatory. However, if you choose to follow this practice, ensure that your code does end with a newline character to prevent any errors or potential issues.

Conclusion

Omitting the closing PHP tag is a technique that can enhance the reliability and clarity of your scripts. However, it's a matter of preference and should be used in accordance with your coding style and specific project requirements.

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