Not understanding a line of code from a simple CMS program

[mrherman]

Hello --

 

I'm trying to work through a very simple CMS that I found on the web (just for learning purposes).  I need some help understanding this line:

 

<table>
<form method="POST" 
      action="account.php?mode=save<?=( isset($_REQUEST['id']) ? "&id={$_REQUEST['id']}" : null )?>
<?

 

I understand the Method = "POST", but not the  "action = " line.

 

Thanks for any help.

[quelle]

am i blind or this guy is starting/ending php code with <?      ?>

[Pikachu2000]

The ?: is called the ternary operator. Basically a shorthand if/else conditional.

[Anti-Moronic]

First of all <? ?> are short tags. Shouldn't be using them as not all installations have this enabled by default.

Second ?: (see pikachu above)

 

..and:

 

<?=( isset($_REQUEST['id']) ? "&id={$_REQUEST['id']}" : null )?>

 

can be written as

 

<?php echo ( isset($_REQUEST['id']) ? "&id={$_REQUEST['id']}" : null ); ?>

 

or

 

if(isset($_REQUEST['id']){
  echo "&id={$_REQUEST['id']}";
}else{
  echo null;
}

 

Hopefully that will help clarify the line for you. Note: echo null would not be done, you wouldn't use an else.

[mrherman]

Yes, this clarifies the line.  Thanks to all very much this evening!