Difference Between Echo and Print in PHP

Ever wondered about the difference between echo and print in PHP? They both display data, but they’re not twins! Let’s explore what sets them apart and why it matters for your PHP projects. Curious?
Read on!

Echo and print are fundamental tools for displaying strings and data in PHP. But both commands have distinct characteristics. Print commands in PHP output a single string. In contrast, the echo command is used to get the output of one or more strings. 

This article will discuss the key differences between echo and print commands in PHP. Later in the article, we will also discuss why and when to use echo and print commands in PHP.

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Table of Content

Table of Content

• Difference Between Echo and Print in PHP: Echo vs Print
• What is the Echo command in PHP?
  • Why to use the Echo command in PHP?
  • Best Practices for Using Echo command
• What is the Print command in PHP?
  • Why to use the Echo command in PHP?
  • Best Practices for Using Echo command
• Key Difference Between Echo and Print command in PHP

What is the Difference Between Echo and Print Command in PHP?

	Echo	Print
Definition	A language construct used to output one or more strings.	A language used to output a single string.
Syntax

Return Value Does not have a return value. Returns 1, indicating successful execution. Parameters Can accept multiple parameters (strings) separated by commas. Accepts only one argument (string). Speed Slightly faster than print as it doesn’t return any value. Slightly slower than echo due to its return value. Usage More commonly used when there’s a need to output multiple strings. Typically used for single string outputs. Parentheses Parentheses are not required. However, if used, it treats the arguments as an array. Parentheses are optional. Can be used with or without them. Construct vs. Function Considered a language construct. Technically a function, but often used like a construct.

What is the Echo command in PHP?

Echo command in PHO is a language construct, not a function, used to print the string, multi-string, escaping character, variable array, etc. It can take multiple parameters simultaneously but does not return any value.
Since it is a language construct, it can’t be called using variable functions or named arguments.

Example

Output

Hello, Shiksha Online!
This is all about how echo is different from print.
What is Echo in PHP?

Why to Use Echo in PHP?

• Simplicity: With just a few characters, you can display a vast array of data types, from strings to numbers.
• Flexibility: Beyond single strings, echo can output multiple strings simultaneously when separated by commas.
• Speed: As a language construct, echo operates slightly faster than print, ensuring efficient code execution.

Best Practices for Using Echo command in PHP

• Quotation Marks: While both single (‘) and double (“) quotes work with echo, remember that variables inside single quotes won’t get parsed.
• Short Tags: Although PHP offers short tags (<?=) as a shorthand for echo, using the full echo construct is advisable for better readability and compatibility.
• Escaping Characters: For special characters, use the backslash () to ensure they display correctly.

What is Print Command in PHP?

Like echo, the print command in PHP is a language construct, not a function. Its argument is expression followed by the print keyword and is not delimited by parentheses. The key differences to echo are:

• print only accepts a single argument and 
• always return 1

Example 1

Output

Hello, Shiksha Online !!

Example-2:

Output

Shiksha is 15 years old.

Note: 

• Using parentheses with the print command will not raise any errors. But it can be misleading since the parentheses are part of the expression being output, not part of the print syntax itself.
• Since it is a language construct, not a function, it can’t be called using variable functions or named arguments.

Why to use Print in PHP?

• Clarity: print offers a straightforward way to display data, making your code easy to read and understand.
• Return Value: Unlike some of its counterparts, print returns a value. Specifically, it returns 1, signifying successful execution.
• Single Argument: print takes a single argument, ensuring simplicity in its application.

Best Practices for Using Echo command in PHP

• Quotation Marks: Both single (‘) and double (“) quotes are compatible with print. However, double quotes allow variable values within the string to be parsed.
• Escaping Characters: For characters with special meanings, like quotes within a string, use the backslash () to ensure they’re interpreted correctly.

Key Differences Between Echo and Print in PHP

• Echo and Print commands in PHP are language constructs, with the difference that echo is used to output one or more strings, while print is used to output a single string.
• Echo doesn’t have a return value, but the print command returns 1, indicating successful execution.
• Print command in PHP can accept only one argument. In contrast, echo can accept multiple parameters.
• Print command is technically a function but used as a language construct, whereas echo is a language construct.