How to Concatenate Strings in PHP: Simple Syntax and Examples

In PHP, you concatenate strings using the . (dot) operator. Simply place the dot between two strings or string variables to join them into one combined string.

Syntax

Use the . operator to join two or more strings. Each string or variable is placed on either side of the dot.

• String 1: The first string or variable.
• .: The concatenation operator.
• String 2: The second string or variable to join.

php

$string1 = "Hello";
$string2 = "World";
$combined = $string1 . " " . $string2;
echo $combined;

Output

Hello World

Example

This example shows how to join two strings with a space between them using the dot operator. It prints the combined string.

php

<?php
$name = "Alice";
$greeting = "Hello";
$message = $greeting . ", " . $name . "!";
echo $message;
?>

Output

Hello, Alice!

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is using the plus sign + instead of the dot . for concatenation, which causes errors because + is for numbers in PHP.

Also, forgetting to add spaces when concatenating strings can lead to words sticking together.

php

<?php
// Wrong way:
// $full = "Hello" + "World"; // This does not cause a fatal error but results in 0

// Right way:
$full = "Hello" . " " . "World";
echo $full;

Output

Hello World

Quick Reference

Remember these tips for string concatenation in PHP:

• Use . to join strings.
• Add spaces manually if needed.
• Do not use + for strings.
• You can concatenate multiple strings in one expression.

Key Takeaways

Use the dot operator . to concatenate strings in PHP.

Add spaces explicitly when joining strings to avoid words running together.

Never use the plus sign + for string concatenation in PHP.

You can join multiple strings or variables in one expression using multiple dots.