php, printf vs echo

snowtigger · 06-15-2008, 06:21 AM

Well i'm on a journey to php land, and i'm after any comments, advice, pros or cons of using "printf" or "echo".

Which would you say is more suitable? Is one better at one job than the other?

Clemente · 06-15-2008, 07:47 AM

I would say, the answer derives from comparing following pages with regard to what you want to do:

printf
echo

First is more flexible and a real function. Latter one is a language construct, less flexible but more easy and quick to write.

I cannot give any evidence, but I would bet, that echo processes faster than print.

Clemente

CSIG · 06-15-2008, 08:04 AM

'echo' and 'print' are not a functions, but a language constructs, so you won't be able to use it in the same way as 'printf'.

'printf' takes input differently: you can provide a format string and then list all the required input (just like in C/C++). 'echo' and 'print' only take strings.

For common cases the difference is not obvious at first sight, and quite often not even relevant. In some special cases 'printf' can be better.

doru · 04-17-2009, 03:47 AM

http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/...l/aid/1/fid/40