phpcontrol-structure

When, where & why should I use the "alternative syntax" for Control Structures?

A simple PHP if / else condition looks like this:

if(true) {
  echo("Hello World!");
} else {
  echo("Goodbye World!");
}

The "alternative syntax" looks like this:

if(true):
  echo("Hello World!");
else:
  echo("Goodbye World!");
endif;

I have a few questions regarding this "alternative syntax":

  1. When / in what case should I use it?
  2. Where / in which part of my script should I use it?
  3. Why should I use it / what purpose does it serve & are there any benefits to using it?
  4. Why was it created, does the "alternative syntax" have features that "original syntax" doesn't?

Thank you for you time & help in advance.

Solution

  • I typically only use it when mixing HTML and PHP, so just for the sake of argument, here is an example to compare

    <?php foreach( $vars as $var ): ?>
    <?php if($var):?>
      <p>Hello World!</p>
    <?php else:?>
      <p>Goodbye World!</p>
    <?php endif;?>
<?php endforeach; ?>


<?php foreach( $vars as $var ){ ?>
    <?php if($var){ ?>
      <p>Hello World!</p>
    <?php }else{ ?>
      <p>Goodbye World!</p>
    <?php } ?>
<?php } ?>

    Granted this is small but if you extend this out about 800 lines it can get tricky to keep track of all those } having the endif; endforeach etc.. gives you just a bit better way to match the code blocks up when mixed with all the HTML content.

    Again, I rarely use mixed HTML/PHP and I'd suggest using a Template engine if you have more then a few lines to do that mix the two. Because even this can wind up messy once you have a dozen endif; it loses it's point.

    But, I guess in short I tend to think of it as a default template syntax...