PHP Echo vs. Short Echo Tags: Which Should I Use and Why?

PHP Echo vs. Short Echo Tags: Equivalency and Considerations

Contrary to the claim that the short echo tag, = $function_here ?>, compromises safety, it's actually equivalent to the full

Safety Implications: Output Encoding

When using echo or short echo tags, it's crucial to ensure the safety of the output in different contexts. This involves encoding the data appropriately for each medium:

• HTML: HTML-encode the output (htmlspecialchars($function_here, ENT_QUOTES))
• JavaScript: JavaScript-encode the output (json_encode($function_here))
• HTML and JavaScript: Use both HTML and JavaScript encoding

Short Open Tags

The only genuine short open tag is . Unlike the short echo tag, it can be disabled via the short_open_tag directive. For portability reasons, it's advisable to avoid using in widely distributed applications, as it may cause issues if the directive is not enabled.

Recommended Usage

Despite the equivalency of echo and short echo tags, it's recommended to use

• Reliability:
• Clarity: Using the full syntax makes the code more easily readable and understandable, especially for developers unfamiliar with the short echo tag.
• Standardization: The full syntax is the official and standard way of echoing data in PHP, promoting consistency and code maintenance.

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