add a dot before the equal in php

[sungpeng]

.=

I am wondering why sometime it is require to add a dot before the equal in php?

 

 

[rythemton]

The dot equals (.=) is a shortcut:

// The following:
$something .= $more;

// Is the same as the following:
$something = $something . $more;

Without the dot, whatever is in the variable will be replaced.

$something="this";
$something = "that"; // now $something is 'that'
$something .= "more"; // now $something is 'thatmore'

It depends on what you are trying to do.

[sungpeng]

Thank you