Help with example code

[patswof]

I am trying to teach myself php and I have a question about an example code from the book I am using.

 

<?php

  if (!empty($error_message)) { ?>

  <p class="error"><?php echo $error_message; ?></p>

  <?php } ?>

 

I understand what the code does but I don't understand the break up of the opening and closing tags of the php. I appreciate any help

[WebStyles]

you could write the same thing like this:

 

 

<?php

if (!empty($error_message)) {

echo '<p class="error">' . $error_message . '</p>';

}

?>

 

Whoever wrote that code is just trying to keep html code out of the php tags.

[patswof]

Thank you very much.

[Ch0cu3r]

You may find the following pages from the manual useful

 

http://php.net/manual/en/language.basic-syntax.phptags.php

http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.basic-syntax.phpmode.php