? PHP Code Structure

? Quick Overview

PHP code structure defines how PHP scripts are written and embedded within files. PHP runs on the server and must be enclosed inside PHP tags so the server can interpret and execute it correctly.

? Key Concepts

PHP code runs on the server
PHP files usually have a .php extension
Every statement ends with a semicolon
PHP can be mixed with HTML

? Syntax & Theory

PHP scripts start with an opening tag and end with a closing tag. Everything inside these tags is processed as PHP code.

? View Code Example

// Basic PHP opening and closing tags
<?php
echo "PHP code goes here";
?>

? Typical PHP Script

A PHP script can be embedded inside an HTML document to dynamically generate content.

? View Code Example

// PHP embedded inside an HTML page
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First PHP Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome</h1>
<?php
echo "This is a PHP block!";
?>
</body>
</html>

⚙️ PHP Tags

<?php ... ?> — Standard PHP tag
<?= ... ?> — Short echo tag

? View Code Example

// Using standard and short echo PHP tags
<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>
<?= "Hello again!"; ?>

? Live Output / Explanation

The server processes the PHP code and sends only the output (HTML/text) to the browser. The PHP code itself is never visible to the user.

? Interactive Understanding

Think of PHP as a backstage worker. It prepares the final HTML on the server before the browser ever sees it.

? Interactive Echo Playground

Type something below to see how PHP's echo command converts your code into what the user actually sees.

<?php echo " "; ?>

Browser Output (What the user sees):

Hello from PHP!

? Use Cases

Creating dynamic web pages
Handling form data
Connecting to databases
Building login systems

✅ Tips & Best Practices

Always close PHP statements with semicolons
Use standard PHP tags for compatibility
Keep logic separate from design when possible

? Try It Yourself

Create a file named structure.php
Write PHP code to display a message
Run it using http://localhost/structure.php