What is the Purpose and Usage of the `

Understanding the Symbolism of '=' in PHP

In PHP programming, the syntax '=' plays a significant role in simplifying code and enhancing readability. It serves as an abbreviation for '', allowing developers to quickly output variable values without explicitly declaring 'echo' within the PHP tags.

This shorthand syntax has become widely accepted since PHP 5.4.0 and is enabled by default, regardless of the php.ini settings. By utilizing '=', developers can streamline their code and focus on the underlying logic rather than the repetitive task of writing 'echo' for variable output.

For instance, consider the following code snippet:

<?php </p><p>$a=1;</p><p>?><br>=$a;?><br></p>

Instead of writing the following, which explicitly uses 'echo':

<?php </p><p>$a=1;</p><p>echo $a;</p><p>?><br></p>

Using '=' significantly reduces the code's verbosity and improves its readability. This shorthand notation has become commonplace in PHP programming and is often preferred by developers for its simplicity and clarity.

The above is the detailed content of What is the Purpose and Usage of the `. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!