PHP is a C-style language and thus uses fancy braces to wrap or hug control structures. PHP is also a language that is extremely flexible so you can also get by without using fancy braces. You will never get away from them entirely as functions and classes / class methods must have fancy braces and currently do not offer an alternative syntax. Let’s take a look at each of the control structures with and without braces.
If
Fancy
if ($this == $that)
{
echo 'and like this and uh'
}
Alternate
if ($this == $that):
echo 'and like this and uh'
endif
While
Fancy
while ($to_infinity)
{
echo 'and beyond!'
}
Alternate
while ($to_infinity):
echo 'and beyond!'
endwhile
For
Fancy
for ($score)
{
echo 'and seven years ago'
}
Alternate
for ($score):
echo 'and seven years ago'
endfor
Foreach
Fancy
echo 'He died not for men, but'
foreach ($man)
{
echo 'If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.'
}
Alternate
echo 'He died not for men, but'
foreach ($man):
echo 'If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.'
endforeach
Switch
Fancy
switch ($things)
{
case 'up':
echo 'up, up and away!'
break
default:
echo 'down, down, down'
break
}
Alternate
switch ($things):
case 'up':
echo 'up, up and away!'
break
default:
echo 'down, down, down'
break
endswitch
You may be asking yourself, “who codes this way?”. The fact is, I personally don’t and up until recently I had only ever seen it in WordPress templates. Recently a co-worker of mine was trying out the alternative syntax which is what reminded me that it even existed. Then Geoff Oliver of Plan8 Studios made mention to me today that the syntax looks great when you’re juggling HTML and PHP which falls in line with why it’s so predominate in WordPress Templates.
Personally, I favor fancy braces but can see the value of the alternate syntax in templates. I’d much rather see the alternate syntax than single line conditionals lacking braces entirely. Do you use the alternative syntax instead of fancy braces? Comment below and let me know!
