Differences In Two Common PHP Language Constructs
PHP is a highly robust language- one that has attracted web developers from all across the world to take place in the web application craze that’s been raging. Getting the most out of the language means understanding it- and something most developers don’t know is simple things such as the difference between Echo and Print.
Echo and Print are both commands used to display something to the browser. Both are used in similar structure, and both are identical in output. So what, then, is the use for having two commands that appear to do the exact same thing?
Print is actually something more of a function, as it can be enclosed in brackets. Echo lacks this ability, but then again, there is almost never a need to do so. In reality, having this ability is something that even those who have seen it all in PHP likely won’t need to make use of. This just adds more confusion to the topic than what was previously apparent.
There is the issue of speed that comes along with the fact that Print has to return a value. The extra load will indeed affect performance, but on such a small level that it isn’t even noticeable. It is recommended that PHP developers not take such a trivial amount of performance into mind, and instead pick the printing command that best suits them.
So far the industry standard has been to use Echo, but it should be stressed that either command may be used at will. Echo seems to be the favorite as it is easier to type, not to mention it’s a fun word to say! Those who favor the Print command are usually older programmers, who are accustomed to using the command Print from other programming languages that are now considered archaic.
As a last note of worthiness, it should be made clear that if speed is an issue, more emphasis should be put on how the two commands are used. Repeatedly using either command where a programmer could simply concatenate a string or value together will waste system performance- and on a much more noticeable scale that the difference between returning a value or not. Thus, this subject should be addressed if anything in regards to speed.
In Conclusion
PHP development just wouldn’t be the same without fun debates such as the one just mentioned. But in reality, it really doesn’t matter which route is taken- so long as either language construct is used in a performance-based manner. Although Print may still have somewhat of a following today, as books and publishers start using Echo more often, it’s likely we’ll see a death to the Print command soon enough.
