{"id":2358,"date":"2021-07-30T07:53:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T07:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phptutorial.net\/?page_id=2358"},"modified":"2025-04-05T14:27:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T14:27:24","slug":"php-heredoc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.phptutorial.net\/php-tutorial\/php-heredoc\/","title":{"rendered":"PHP Heredoc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use PHP heredoc and nowdoc strings to improve the readability of the code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to the PHP heredoc string #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you place variables<\/a> in a double-quoted string<\/a>, PHP will expand the variable names. If a string contains the double quotes (“), you need to escape them using the backslash character(\\<\/code>). For example:<\/p>\n\n\n

<?php<\/span>\n\n$he = 'Bob'<\/span>;\n$she = 'Alice'<\/span>;\n\n$text = \"$he said, \\\"PHP is awesome\\\".\n\\\"Of course.\\\" $she agreed.\"<\/span>;\n\necho<\/span> $text;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Bob said, \"PHP is awesome\"<\/span>.\n\"Of course.\"<\/span> Alice agreed.<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
PHP heredoc strings behave like double-quoted strings without the double quotes. It means that they don’t need to escape quotes and expand variables. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$he = 'Bob'<\/span>;\n$she = 'Alice'<\/span>;\n\n$text = <<<TEXT\n$he<\/span> said \"PHP is awesome\".\n\"Of course\" $she<\/span> agreed.\"\nTEXT;<\/span>\n\necho<\/span> $text;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
PHP heredoc syntax #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The following shows the syntax of a heredoc string:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$str = <<<IDENTIFIER\nplace a string here\nit can span multiple lines\nand include single quote ' and double quotes \"\nIDENTIFIER;<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
How it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, start with the <<<<\/code> operator, an identifier, and a new line:<\/p>\n\n\n
<<<IDENTIFIER<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, specify the string, which can span multiple lines and include single quotes (‘) or double quotes (“).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Third, close the string with the same identifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The identifier must contain only alphanumeric characters and underscores and start with an underscore or a non-digit character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closing identifier must follow these rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try it<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try it<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n