Print statement in PHP

Introduction

The print statement shows text or values on the screen. It helps you see results or messages when your program runs.

To show a welcome message to users on a webpage.

To display the result of a calculation.

To print error messages when something goes wrong.

To debug by showing variable values during development.

Syntax

PHP

print "text or value";

Use double or single quotes around text.

Each print statement ends with a semicolon (;).

Examples

Prints the text Hello, world! on the screen.

PHP

print "Hello, world!";

Prints the text PHP is fun! using single quotes.

PHP

print 'PHP is fun!';

Prints the number 123 without quotes.

PHP

print 123;

Sample Program

This program prints a welcome message, then a new line, then the number 2024.

PHP

<?php
print "Welcome to PHP programming!";
print "\n";
print 2024;
?>

Important Notes

Use \n inside double quotes to add a new line.

print is a language construct, so parentheses are optional.

Summary

Print shows text or values on the screen.

Use quotes for text, no quotes for numbers.

End each print statement with a semicolon.

Practice

1. What does the print statement do in PHP?

easy

A. It shows text or values on the screen.

B. It saves data to a file.

C. It creates a new variable.

D. It deletes a file.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of print

   The print statement is used to display output on the screen in PHP.

2. Step 2: Compare options with print's function

   Only It shows text or values on the screen. correctly describes this behavior; others describe unrelated actions.

3. Final Answer:

   It shows text or values on the screen. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Print = Show output [OK]

Hint: Print always outputs text or values to the screen [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking print saves or deletes files
• Confusing print with variable creation
• Assuming print modifies data silently

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to print the text Hello World in PHP?

easy

A. print(Hello World);

B. print "Hello World";

C. print "Hello World"

D. print 'Hello World'

Solution

1. Step 1: Check for quotes around text

   Text must be inside quotes to be printed correctly in PHP.

2. Step 2: Check for semicolon at the end

   PHP statements must end with a semicolon; only print "Hello World"; has both quotes and semicolon.

3. Final Answer:

   print "Hello World"; -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Quotes + semicolon = correct print syntax [OK]

Hint: Text must be in quotes and end with semicolon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting quotes around text
• Missing semicolon at the end
• Using parentheses without quotes

3. What will be the output of the following PHP code?

print 123;
print " apples";

medium

A. 123apples

B. 123" apples"

C. 123 apples

D. Error: missing semicolon

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze first print statement

   print 123; prints the number 123 without quotes.

2. Step 2: Analyze second print statement

   print " apples"; prints the text ' apples' with a space before apples.

3. Step 3: Combine outputs

   Both prints run one after another, so output is '123 apples'.

4. Final Answer:

   123 apples -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Number + text prints together = 123 apples [OK]

Hint: Print numbers without quotes, text with quotes, outputs join [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting quotes to print literally
• Missing space between number and text
• Thinking missing semicolon causes error here

4. Identify the error in this PHP code:

print "Hello World"

medium

A. Missing semicolon at the end

B. Quotes should be single quotes

C. print should be uppercase

D. Missing parentheses around text

Solution

1. Step 1: Check statement ending

   PHP statements must end with a semicolon; this code misses it.

2. Step 2: Verify other syntax parts

   Quotes can be single or double, print is case-insensitive, parentheses optional.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing semicolon at the end -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Semicolon missing = syntax error [OK]

Hint: Always end print statements with a semicolon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting semicolon at line end
• Thinking print must be uppercase
• Adding unnecessary parentheses

5. How can you print the phrase PHP version: 8.1 using a single print statement with a variable $version = 8.1;?

hard

A. print "PHP version: $version";

B. print 'PHP version: $version';

C. print PHP version: $version;

D. print ("PHP version: " . $version);

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand variable interpolation in quotes

   Double quotes allow variables inside text to be replaced; single quotes do not.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   print "PHP version: $version"; would work but misses semicolon; print 'PHP version: $version'; prints variable name literally; print PHP version: $version; is syntax error; print ("PHP version: " . $version); concatenates string and variable correctly with semicolon.

3. Final Answer:

   print ("PHP version: " . $version); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Concatenate string and variable with dot and semicolon [OK]

Hint: Use dot (.) to join strings and variables in print [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using single quotes with variables expecting interpolation
• Omitting semicolon
• Not concatenating strings and variables properly