Why Does SMF Use Echo Statements To Output HTML code?

[motumbo]

I was just wondering why SMF uses echo statements to output HTML code.  I am a beginner when it comes to PHP.  So maybe there are advantages to using echo statements?

I made a php page and used straight HTML and when I wanted to add some php code, I used the <?php tag.  It's a lot easier to read that way.

Just wondering...  Thanks to anyone who satisfies my curiosity!

[Harzem]

Using <?php ?> code when needed is a nice way to use when you need mostly a static html page. SMF uses a lot more php code, and most of the html codes are outputted only based on "if" or "for" statements. You can't use a nice "for" loop with changing variables embedded inside the html code. You would need hundreds of <?php?> codes. For example,

echo 'user ', $name, ' has ', $post_number ,' posts, the last was in ', $board,' on ', $date;


user <?php $name ?> has <?php $post_number ?> posts, the last was in <?php $board ?> on <?php $date ?>



can be seen as similar. But think about a for loop that counts all the users in this code, to create a list for example. If a user has no posts, you will not include the "last was in that board on that date". You can't code it using <?php?> codes easily.

[Kindred]

besides, if you get a text editor with parsing built in (conText, UltraEdit, EditPlus) then everything is nicely color-coded in an overall php file...   even echo statements that include html

[motumbo]

OK.  I understand a little better!  As I said, I'm pretty much beginner level with PHP.

[Dannii]

echo statements are faster too.