PHP echo and print – Output Data Explained
In PHP, echo and print are used to output data to the browser. Both are language constructs, meaning they do not require parentheses.
1. Using echo
echo is faster and can take multiple arguments, though it is rarely used with multiple arguments.
<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
echo "PHP is fun!", " and powerful!";
?>
2. Using print
print is similar to echo but only takes one argument and returns 1, making it slightly slower.
<?php
print "Hello, World!";
$result = print "PHP is awesome!";
echo " Print returned: " . $result;
?>
3. Differences Between echo and print
| Feature | echo | |
|---|---|---|
| Arguments | Can take multiple | Only takes one |
| Return Value | None | Returns 1 |
| Speed | Faster | Slightly slower |
4. Outputting HTML with echo and print
You can use either to display HTML content.
<?php
echo "<h1>Welcome to PHP</h1>";
print "<p>This is a paragraph.</p>";
?>
Conclusion
Both echo and print are used for output in PHP. echo is preferred for performance, while print can be useful when a return value is needed.