Should I Use PHP Short Tags: Weighing Pros and Cons?

PHP Short Tags: Pros and Cons

PHP offers several opening and closing tag formats, including short tags and ASP style tags. While short tags may seem convenient for developers, official documentation advises against their use due to portability issues.

Despite this recommendation, many servers support short tags, making the shorthand syntax tempting to use. For instance, the syntax

Prohibited Short Tags vs. Acceptable Shorthand Echo Tags

The PHP Coding Standard prohibits the use of the short tag

In contrast, the shorthand echo tag

Arguments for Short Tags

Despite the recommendation against using short tags, some developers argue for their convenience. They claim that the shorter syntax reduces typing and improves code readability. However, it's important to note that most modern development environments offer syntax highlighting, negating this argument.

Considerations for Portability

As of PHP 5.4, the tag is supported everywhere, regardless of shorttag settings. However, if you need to support PHP versions prior to 5.4 and cannot guarantee that short tags are enabled, you should continue to use the full syntax .

Future Compatibility

It's worth noting that ASP tags (<%, %>, <%=) and script tags will be removed from PHP 7. For long-term portable code, consider transitioning away from these tags to maintain compatibility with future versions of PHP.

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