Line break using php

Glenn · 11-18-2011, 06:38 PM

What's the difference in using <br> and \n at the end of an echo statement.

DesignerBill · 11-19-2011, 01:59 AM

<br> is more correctly <br /> per latest HTML standards and causes a line break in the web page as presented by the browser, or when printed.

\n outputs is a new line character which is interpreted as white space and ignored by the browser, but is meaningful in text and source code files. Placing \n at the end of your echo strings will change your browser's display of source code from this:

HTML Code:

select name="select"><option value="A">A</option><option value="B">B</option><option value="C">C</option><option value="D">D</option></select>

to this:

HTML Code:

<select name="select">
<option value="A">A</option>
<option value="B">B</option>
<option value="C">C</option>
<option value="D">D</option>
</select>

Note, I just discovered this fact: In order for \n to work, you must enclose your string to be echo'ed in double quotes, and escape double quotes that are part of the string.

goldenwaters · 11-23-2011, 08:03 AM

@DesignerBill, @Glenn
I have encountered the same problem with \n. So what i do is that i enclose the <br> tag in my echo statement.

computerGeek · 11-25-2011, 02:53 PM

Hmm, that seems to be a likely solution. I'll try it out with mine.

11-18-2011, 06:38 PM	#1
Glenn Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 112	Line break using php What's the difference in using <br> and \n at the end of an echo statement.

11-19-2011, 01:59 AM	#2
DesignerBill Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 146	<br> is more correctly <br /> per latest HTML standards and causes a line break in the web page as presented by the browser, or when printed. \n outputs is a new line character which is interpreted as white space and ignored by the browser, but is meaningful in text and source code files. Placing \n at the end of your echo strings will change your browser's display of source code from this: HTML Code: select name="select"><option value="A">A</option><option value="B">B</option><option value="C">C</option><option value="D">D</option></select> to this: HTML Code: <select name="select"> <option value="A">A</option> <option value="B">B</option> <option value="C">C</option> <option value="D">D</option> </select> Note, I just discovered this fact: In order for \n to work, you must enclose your string to be echo'ed in double quotes, and escape double quotes that are part of the string. __________________ space Orchid Technical Services Website Design/Development and Technical Support

11-25-2011, 02:53 PM	#4
computerGeek Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 231	Hmm, that seems to be a likely solution. I'll try it out with mine. __________________ Custom Web Design for Businesses

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11-23-2011, 08:03 AM	#3
goldenwaters Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Satellite-Town, Lagos, Nigeria, West-Africa. Posts: 89	@DesignerBill, @Glenn I have encountered the same problem with \n. So what i do is that i enclose the <br> tag in my echo statement.