Can I use short tags in PHP scripts

Question:

Many developers ask: “Can I use short tags (<? and <?=) in my PHP code instead of the normal <?php?”

Answer:

1. Types of Short Tags

• <? ... ?> → Old “short open tag.”
• <?= ... ?> → Short echo tag, used to quickly print values.

Example:

<?= "Hello World"; ?>

This works the same as:

<?php echo "Hello World"; ?>

2. Availability

• The short echo tag (<?=) is always enabled in PHP 5.4 and above. Safe to use.
• The short open tag (<?) depends on the short_open_tag setting in php.ini. If disabled, your code may break.

3. Portability Issues

If you move your script to another server where short_open_tag is turned off, your code may stop working. That’s why most frameworks recommend avoiding it.

4. Best Practice

• Always use <?php ... ?> → safest and most reliable.
• You may safely use <?= ... ?> for echo/print → modern and supported everywhere.
• Avoid <? → may cause problems.

5. Example (Recommended Way)

<?php
$name = "Ucartz";
?>

<p>Welcome, <?= $name ?>!</p>

Summary:

• Use <?php → safest.
• Use <?= → safe and recommended for echo.
• Avoid <? → may cause issues on some servers.