How can I echo PHP and HTML in the same line?

Question

All I want to do is echo out a PHP variable inside a <li> tag. Refer to the code below. What's the proper format? Mine is not working.

$row['cat_title'];

echo "<li> {$cat_title} </li>";

Templating would be the way to go IMO, in addition to the `echo`-based answers, you could also use `(s)printf('
PHP **is** a templating engine. Including an entire 3rd party templating engine to accomplish simple string concatenation/interpolation is ridiculous. If this is in a template/view, use `

Don't Panic · Answer 1 · 2016-08-10T19:35:26.010

If you need to output a value of a particular array key (e.g. $row['cat_title']) in HTML, you have quite a few options.

You can use the concatenation operator (.):

echo '<li>' . $row['cat_title'] . '</li>';

You can use variable interpolation with simple string parsing (note that in this syntax, quotes around the array key must be omitted):

echo "<li>$row[cat_title]</li>";

You can use variable interpolation with complex string parsing (using {}) which is actually not necessary here, but useful for more interpolating more complex expressions. With this syntax, quotes around the array key should be included.:

echo "<li>{$row['cat_title']}</li>";

You can output plain HTML and use the echo shortcut syntax <?= to output the value (only do this if you are already outputting HTML, not if you are currently in a <?php tag; that would be a syntax error.):

<li><?= $row['cat_title'] ?></li>

You can use printf (thanks to Elias Van Ootegem's comment for reminding me of this; I should have included it to begin with). sprintf can be used if you want to save the result to a variable instead; printf will output it immediately:

printf('<li>%s</li>', $row['cat_title']);

The first argument of printf is a format string, where %s is a string conversion specification that will take the value of $row['cat_title'] when printf is executed.

There are other ways, but these are the most common.

@meagar You're right. Writing answers so as to avoid "this didn't work on my PHP 5.2 server" responses is a lazy habit I need to break. I suppose the appropriate answer to those types of replies is not "then you'll have to use ` — Don't Panic, Aug 10 '16 at 19:35
This is a really good and comprehensive answer. I flagged the question as a duplicate of another question but I feel like this is a better answer than the duplicate. — Cave Johnson, Aug 10 '16 at 21:12
Thanks @Andrew. It seems like it definitely could be considered a duplicate. I'm not sure if this question specifically asking about outputting an array key rather than a simple variable makes it distinct from that one or not. FWIW, my answer does address some specifics of that that would be irrelevant to the other question. — Don't Panic, Aug 10 '16 at 21:20

Mostafa · Answer 2 · 2016-08-10T21:04:44.660

1

echo '<li>'.$var.'</li>';

OR

echo "<li>$var</li>";

OR

<li><?=$var?></li>

edited Aug 10 '16 at 21:04

answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:07

Mostafa

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@DuaneLortie Please stop spreading misinformation. That tag will work in *all* modern versions of PHP since PHP 5.4, regardless of whether short tags are on or off. `=` has nothing to do with short tags, it's safe to use, and has been for a long, long time. – user229044 Aug 10 '16 at 19:05
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@Robert For all modern versions of php, `=` is fine. See above, and stop spreading this misinformation. – user229044 Aug 10 '16 at 19:05
This is dependent on the clients php version. – Teddy Codes Aug 10 '16 at 19:08
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@Robert No, that is exactly the misinformation I'm asking you to stop spreading. Assuming the client is running a version of PHP made in the last 4.5 years, it is safe to use. Even before PHP 5.4, it was **still** safe to use. You can't avoid all the parts of PHP that *some* servers might not be configured for, or you have to avoid 90% of PHP. The sane thing to do is pick a host that supports the parts of the language you're using, not avoid all parts that might not be available on every single PHP installation everywhere. – user229044 Aug 10 '16 at 19:12
You're right in this manner. The client should be picking the correct host, but me personally always asume the client knows nothing about hosting ect. – Teddy Codes Aug 10 '16 at 19:13
@Robert Again, the host *doesn't matter*, because every host worth using is running **at least** PHP 5.4, where `=` is *guaranteed* to be available. – user229044 Aug 10 '16 at 19:14
My bad folks.. "Prior to PHP 5.4.0, this short syntax only works with the short_open_tag configuration setting enabled. " so yes,
= $row['cat_title'] ?>

Duane Lortie

Aug 10 '16 at 19:14

Again I personally assume all of my clients are dumb so I would not use short tags ect. – Teddy Codes Aug 10 '16 at 19:15

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It blows my mind that there are still PHP devs who think `=` is a short tag. They are not the same thing, and people should really stop advocating against the use of `=` which the language authors have explicitly guaranteed to be available for our use. It has been almost 5 years since "avoid `=`" was sound advice, if it ever was. Every version of PHP where `=` support is optional has been officially retired and unsupported for *years*. – user229044 Aug 10 '16 at 19:16

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:11

1

You need to reference the right variable. You're on the right track, though.

echo "<li> {$row['cat_title']} </li>";

answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:11

aynber

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score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Jul 07 '19 at 17:05

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If the file is mostly PHP in the file then:

<?php echo "<li>" . $row['cat_title'] . "</li>"; ?>

Or conversely if it's mostly HTML in the file then:

<li><?php echo $row['cat_title']; ?></li>

It sounds to me that it's most likely the second option you are looking for.

edited Jul 07 '19 at 17:05

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 10 '16 at 17:52

George Litchfield

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score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:12

-1

Another alternative:

<li><?php echo $row['cat_title']; ?></li>

answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:12

CarlosCarucce

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To whoever downvoted it: Please tell me why in the world is it wrong – CarlosCarucce Aug 11 '16 at 11:21

score -1 · Answer 6 · edited Jul 07 '19 at 17:05

-1

Either of these methods will work...

// Use single quotes and periods like this...
echo '<li>'. $row['cat_title'] .'</li>';

OR

 // Use double quotes like this...
 echo "<li> $row['cat_title'] </li>";

edited Jul 07 '19 at 17:05

Peter Mortensen

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answered Aug 10 '16 at 16:14

Duane Lortie

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Method 1 works, but method 2 contains a syntax error. – Don't Panic Aug 10 '16 at 16:47

How can I echo PHP and HTML in the same line?

6 Answers6