Which is the correct way of using core predefined constant PHP_EOL inside a double quoted string and single quoted string?

Question

Consider below code example making use of PHP_EOL :

<?php

  $juices = array("apple", "orange", "koolaid1" => "purple");
  class people {
    public $john = "John Smith";
  }

  $string = 'string';
  $people = new people();

  //In below statement dot(.) is used before PHP_EOL
  echo "$people->john drank some $juices[0] juice.".PHP_EOL;

  //In below statement comma(,) is used before PHP_EOL
  echo "The character at index -2 is $string[-2].", PHP_EOL;

?>

Output :

John Smith drank some apple juice. 
The character at index -2 is n.

If you look at the above code closely, especially at the lines making use of PHP_EOL, you will come to know the difference in the preceding character to PHP_EOL in both statements.

In first statement PHP_EOL is preceded by a dot(.) whereas in second statement it is preceded by a comma(,)

Why such difference is there in the syntax as both the statements are generating the same output only?

Someone please clear the confusion.

Note : I know that core predefined constant PHP_EOL is used to put the correct 'End Of Line' symbol for the platform on which program is executing.

Possible duplicate of [Difference between period and comma when concatenating with echo versus return?](https://stackoverflow.com/a/1466429/5914775) — Tom Udding, Nov 30 '17 at 08:15
Most of your code is pointless when trying to show a minimal example of your problem/question. All of the strings/classes do nothing to make your point clear - IMHO. — Nigel Ren, Nov 30 '17 at 08:18
I also don't see where in your example you have single quoted strings as listed in your title. — Nigel Ren, Nov 30 '17 at 08:19

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 30 '17 at 09:15

echo "$people->john drank some $juices[0] juice.".PHP_EOL;

Here .(dot) works like it will first concatenate the total string then prints.

But comes to ,

echo "The character at index -2 is $string[-2].", PHP_EOL;

it won't concatenate. it will print one after other based on ,

Which is the correct way of using core predefined constant PHP_EOL inside a double quoted string and single quoted string?

1 Answers1