Echo vs Print: Difference and Comparison

Language constructs are a crucial part of modern media. Echo and print are two such kinds of PHP programs. The basic implementation of echo and print is largely identical to each other.

However, there are considerable differences between echo and print. 

Key Takeaways

1. Echo is a PHP language construct used to display text, while Print is a function used to display text.
2. Echo returns no value, while Print returns a value of 1.
3. Echo is faster than Print when displaying text.

Echo vs Print 

Echo is a type of language construct in PHP that does not require a parenthesis, except more than one parameter is being used. Some applications include variables and arrays. Print is a language construct that can be applied practically with or without parenthesis and serves output data to the browser screen.

Echo refers to a language construct in PHP. As a result, echo eliminates the need for a parenthesis. However, parenthesis is required when more than one parameter is in use.

Furthermore, echo allows the passage of several strings by using a comma. Another added advantage of echo is that it is significantly faster than print statements. 

Print refers to a language construct that has a practical application both with and without parenthesis. Print serves to output data on the browser screen. 

The syntax of print is int print(string $arg). In addition, print PHP has a practical application in printing escaping characters, strings, and multi-line strings. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Echo	Print
Return value	Echo does not have any integral return value.	Print has an integral return value of 1.
Arguments	Echo can take several arguments at once.	Print can take only one parameter at once.
Pace	Echo works at a faster pace than echo.	Print works at a slower pace than echo.
Function	Echo does not behave like a function.	Print behaves like a function.
Application	The most significant uses of echo include its application in printing multi-line strings, variables, and arrays.	The most immediate use of print is debugging.

What is Echo?

Echo refers to a language construct in PHP. As a result, echo eliminates the need for a parenthesis. However, parenthesis is required when more than one parameter is in use.

There are several practical applications of echo PHP. The most significant uses include its application in printing multi-line strings, variables, and arrays.

There are some crucial features of echo. Some of these include its application as a function used to display the output. A return value does not exist in the case of echo.

Furthermore, echo allows the passage of several strings by using a comma. Another added advantage of echo is that it is significantly faster than print statements. 

There is the prevalence of a shorter syntax in the case of echo. Although echo may behave like a string function, yet in practicality, it is not a function.

An example of an echo function is $name=”John.” Another example of echo is echo $name;//or and echo ($name);. Thus, echo has several uses to generate a command. 

As a language construct, echo serves several interesting functions. Echo initially came into existence on 21 February 2002. By definition, it serves as a web application framework.

The latest version of Echo is Echo3. The original function of echo was to serve as a request-response web application framework.

Over the years, echo transformed to perform a web application function. 

What is Print?

Print refers to a language construct that has a practical application both with and without parenthesis. Print serves to output data on the browser screen.

A significant limitation of print is that it accepts only a single argument at a time. Print PHP allows individual users to display strings in a manner identical to that employed by echo PHP. 

The most important characteristic of print is that it is not only a function in a nominal manner, but it also behaves like a function.

The print also serves as an alternative to echo on several occasions. The syntax of print is int print(string $arg).

In addition, print PHP has a practical application in printing escaping characters, strings, and multi-line strings. 

Print is known to return an integer value of 1. Print functions at a relatively slower rate as compared to echo. The most immediate use of print is debugging.

It performs the function of displaying variables. Thus, print serves as a web application framework. The use of parenthesis is not necessarily a compulsion in the case of print PHP. 

Examples of print PHP strings are <?php, // Displaying string of text print, “Hello World!”;,?>.  The output of this code will be “Hello World.”

To conclude, print PHP is a function that is more or less identical to echo PHP. The minor differences between Print PHP and echo PHP are what makes them different from each other. 

Main Differences Between Echo and Print

1. Echo does not have any integral return value. On the other hand, print has an integral return value of 1. 
2. Echo can take several arguments at once. In contrast, print can take only one parameter at once.
3. Echo works at a faster pace than echo. On the other hand, print works at a slower pace than echo.
4. The most significant uses of echo include its application in printing multi-line strings, variables, and arrays. In contrast, the most immediate use of print is debugging.
5. Echo does not behave like a function. On the other hand, print behaves like a function.

References

1. https://www.phptpoint.com/php-echo-print/ 
2. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/234241/how-are-echo-and-print-different-in-php