Simple php quote syntax error on echo usage inside echo

Question

I have no problem with creating php submenu class selected but when i try to create this submenu inside submenu: I can't get it work.

Problem: Defining echo inside echo returning syntax error because of quotes.

<ul class="sub_nav">
  <li <?php if ($page=='kurumsal-hakkimizda') {echo "class='selected'";} ?>>
    <a href="<?=BAZ_URL?>/tr/kurumsal-hakkimizda">Hakkımızda</a>
  </li>
  <li <?php if ($page=='kurumsal-ik') {echo "class='selected'";} ?>>
    <a href="<?=BAZ_URL?>/tr/kurumsal-ik">İnsan Kaynakları</a>
    <?php
      if ($page=='kurumsal-ik')
      { echo '
        <ul id="sub_sub_nav">

           <!-- !! PROBLEM STARTS HERE !! -->
           <li class="'if($page=='kurumsal-ik'){echo 'selected'}'">
           <!-- !! CANT USE ECHO INSIDE ECHO BEACUSE OF QUOTES !! -->

            <a href="'.BAZ_URL.'/tr/kurumsal-ik">İnsan Kaynakları Politikamız</a>
           </li>

           <li class="'if($page=='kurumsal-hedef'){echo 'selected'}'">
            <a href="'.BAZ_URL.'/tr/kurumsal-hedef">Kurumsal Hedef</a>
           </li>
        </ul>
     ';}
    ?>
  </li>
  <li <?php if ($page=='kurumsal-haberler') {echo "class='selected'";} ?>>
    <a href="<?=BAZ_URL?>/tr/kurumsal-haberler">Kurumsal Haberler</a>
  </li>
</ul>

I have searched this problem's answer like an hour and cound't find the solution, so i've asked here. why **-3** ? Please explain so i can be carefull next time. — Barlas Apaydin, Sep 06 '12 at 10:28

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 06 '12 at 10:20

2

Its already inside echo right? So do this:

<li class="', ($page=='kurumsal-ik') ? 'selected' : '', '">

It works for sure. It is called ternary operator! :)

Note: Dot concatenation operator cannot be used here, because, the ternary operator acts as a function returning a value. Only comma , can be used.

answered Sep 06 '12 at 10:20

Praveen Kumar Purushothaman

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And the comma is for ? Maybe you would want to replace it with a dot ? – Cosmin Sep 06 '12 at 10:22
No no... Comma only to be put here. `.` doesn't work in this case. – Praveen Kumar Purushothaman Sep 06 '12 at 10:23
1

@Cosmin `echo` is a language construct to which you can pass multiple parameters, separated by a comma. – feeela Sep 06 '12 at 10:25
@Cosmin I have clarified your question in the answer itself! :) – Praveen Kumar Purushothaman Sep 06 '12 at 10:25
Thank you for the explanations, didin't know this. – Cosmin Sep 06 '12 at 10:25
It is working but i have question: `? 'selected' : '',` second `''` after `:` is else right? – Barlas Apaydin Sep 06 '12 at 10:27
Yes, it is `else` part. It is a simple ternary `if ... else ...`! :) – Praveen Kumar Purushothaman Sep 06 '12 at 10:27
@barlasapaydin Yes, a ternary has to do something if the first condition fails. – Fluffeh Sep 06 '12 at 10:27
1

Dot concatenation can be used, the ternary operator just needs to be wrapped in brackets, see my post below for an example. – James Sep 06 '12 at 10:30
@JamesKirby Thanks for the info. I have tried to assign many times but it fails. Anyways, point noted. +1 for you! :) – Praveen Kumar Purushothaman Sep 06 '12 at 10:32

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 06 '12 at 10:21

You could just make the variable and echo it out at the very end:

<?php
  if ($page=='kurumsal-ik')
  { 
        $myVar= '
    <ul id="sub_sub_nav">
       <li class="';
    if($page=='kurumsal-ik')
    {
        $myVar .= 'selected';
    }
    $myVar.='">
        <a href="'.BAZ_URL.'/tr/kurumsal-ik">İnsan Kaynakları Politikamız</a>
       </li>

       <li class="';
    if($page=='kurumsal-hedef')
    {
        $myVar.= 'selected';
    }
    $myVar.='">
        <a href="'.BAZ_URL.'/tr/kurumsal-hedef">Kurumsal Hedef</a>
       </li>
    </ul>
    ';
    echo $myVar;
   }
?>

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 06 '12 at 10:27

As Praveen has said, it's already within an echo so there is no need to use another. I believe the syntax for a ternary operator within an echo is:

<?php echo '<li class="' . ( $page == 'page_name' ? 'selected' : '' ) . '"><a href="/">Link</a></li>'; ?>

Hope that helps.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 06 '12 at 10:44

One the useful features of PHP is that it directly outputs everything that is outside the <?php and ?> tags, so you don't need long echo statements.

This is particularly practical when used in combination with the alternative syntax for control structures

Your code would be much more readable like this:

<?php if($page=='kurumsal-ik'): ?>
    <ul id="sub_sub_nav">

    <li class="<?php if($page=='kurumsal-ik') echo 'selected';?>">
        <a href="<?php echo BAZ_URL; ?>/tr/kurumsal-ik">İnsan Kaynakları Politikamız</a>
    </li>

    <li class="<?php if($page=='kurumsal-hedef') echo 'selected';?>">
        <a href="<?php echo BAZ_URL; ?>/tr/kurumsal-hedef">Kurumsal Hedef</a>
    </li>

    </ul>
<?php endif; ?>

P. S. You can shorten your code by using the shorthand <?=, which means <?php echo.

Simple php quote syntax error on echo usage inside echo

4 Answers4