Echo vs Print
In PHP, echo
and print
are two language constructs used to output data to the browser. While they
often work interchangeably, there are subtle differences that are useful to
understand for beginners.
Echo
echo outputs one or more strings to the
browser. It is faster than print because it doesn’t return a value.
echo
can output multiple strings separated by commas.
Example:
<?phpecho "Hello, World!";echo " ", "Welcome to PHP!";?>
Output:
Hello, World! Welcome to PHP!
Print
print outputs a single string and always
returns 1,
which allows it to be used in expressions. Unlike echo, print can
only take one argument and is slightly slower.
Example:
<?php$test = print "Hello, World!";echo "\nReturned value: " . $test;?>
Output:
Hello, World!Returned value: 1
Key
Differences
Echo does not return a value, can take
multiple arguments, and is slightly faster. Print returns 1,
can only take one argument, and can be used in expressions.
When to
Use
Use echo for quick output of multiple
strings. Use print
if you need a return value or want to include it in an expression.
Conclusion
Both echo and print are essential
for displaying output in PHP. For most cases, echo is preferred
due to its speed and flexibility, while print is handy in situations requiring a
return value.