This tutorial describes print and echo in PHP. It explains the difference between them and how to use them when coding.
What Is Print in PHP?
Print in PHP creates a statement to print the data as output. It takes single data (a variable or a string) and prints it. It is a language construct and keyword in PHP, not a function. Therefore, developers can use 'print' without using parentheses to create a print statement.
How to Display Strings Using Print?
To print strings, you can write a print statement with the following expressions:
Example:
<?php print "This string is displayed using PHP print." ?>How to Display Variables Using Print?
To print a variable, You can write the print statement with the following expressions:
Example:
<?php
$txt = "This string is displayed using PHP print.";
print $txt;
?>What Is Echo in PHP?
Echo is used to display the output of the passed parameter. It can print (variables and strings) separated by commas. It is a language construct and keyword in PHP, not a function. Therefore, developers can use 'echo' without using parentheses.
How to Display Strings Using Echo?
To print strings, you can write an echo statement like this:
Example:
<?php
echo "Echo statement in PHP." ;
?>How to Display Strings as Multiple Arguments Using Echo?
To pass multiple string arguments using the echo statement instead of a single string argument, users can separate them by a comma (,) operator. For example, if users have multiple strings, namely "Let," "us," and "PHP," then we can use the echo using commas and display them as ("Let," "us," "PHP").
Example:
<?php
echo "Let," "us," "PHP" ;
echo " Here ", "we ", "made ", "a ", "string", "with multiple parameters." ;
?>How to Print Variables Using Echo?
Printing variables in an echo statement is similar to printing strings.
Example:
<?php
$txt = "This string is displayed using PHP echo.";
echo $txt;
?>Differences and Similarities Between Print and Echo
| Echo | |
|---|---|
| The print statement prints an output. It can be used as an alternative to echo. | The echo statement prints an output. |
| The print statement can be written with or without parentheses. | The echo statement can be written with or without parentheses, just like print. |
| The print statement can accept only one argument at a time; Thus, it can print only a single string. | The echo statement accepts a list of arguments. |
| The print statement always returns a value of 1. | The echo statement returns no value or returns void. |
| The print statement executes slower than the echo statement. | The echo executes comparatively faster than print statement. |
| print($argument) | echo ($argument1[,$argument2..]) |
