Why Are My Short PHP Tags () Not Working in PHP 5.3.1?

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Short PHP Tags Not Functioning in Php 5.3.1: Understanding Why and How to Resolve It

In the realm of PHP development, it's essential to address a common issue that arises when migrating to PHP 5.3.1: the malfunctioning of the "? >" short tags.

Why the Short Tags Malfunction:

As the question implies, the shift from a previous version of PHP, where short tags were enabled, to PHP 5.3.1 introduces a change in default behavior. PHP 5.3.1 discourages the use of short tags for several reasons:

• They can conflict with XML processing, as " >" tags are also used in XML.
• They may cause confusion in code readability and portability, as not all servers support short tags.

Resolving the Issue:

1. Disable Short Tags:

The recommended approach is to disable short tags by setting the "short_open_tag" INI directive to "Off" in php.ini. This ensures a consistent behavior across different PHP versions and servers.

2. Use Full PHP Tags:

As mentioned in the solution, the best practice is to use the full PHP tags "" and "" for code sections. This method is universally supported and eliminates any issues.

3. Enable Short Tags (Not Recommended):

If you must continue using short tags despite their drawbacks, you can enable them temporarily by:

• Setting "short_open_tag = On" in php.ini
• Calling "ini_set("short_open_tag", 1);" in your code
• Adding "php_value short_open_tag 1" to your .htaccess file

However, it's highly discouraged to rely on short tags as they may disrupt code portability and readability.

Echo Shorthand Alternative:

While short open tags are deprecated, the echo shorthand "= $var ?>" remains available and should be used instead of "" for brevity.

Understanding Default Behavior:

The default behavior of short_open_tag has evolved over different versions of PHP:

• Pre-5.3: Short tags are enabled by default
• 5.3: Short tags are on by default in development builds but off in production builds
• 5.4 and later: Short tags are always off by default

Remember, for best practices and compatibility, it's advisable to adhere to the PHP guidelines and refrain from using short open tags.

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