Alternative Syntax for Control Structures

Alternative if/else statement

<?php

if ($condition):
    do_something();
elseif ($another_condition):
    do_something_else();
else:
    do_something_different();
endif;

?>

<?php if ($condition): ?>
    <p>Do something in HTML</p>
<?php elseif ($another_condition): ?>
    <p>Do something else in HTML</p>
<?php else: ?>
    <p>Do something different in HTML</p>
<?php endif; ?>

Alternative for statement

<?php

for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++):
    do_something($i);
endfor;

?>

<?php for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++): ?>
    <p>Do something in HTML with <?php echo $i; ?></p>
<?php endfor; ?>

Alternative while statement

<?php

while ($condition):
    do_something();
endwhile;

?>

<?php while ($condition): ?>
    <p>Do something in HTML</p>
<?php endwhile; ?>

Alternative foreach statement

<?php

foreach ($collection as $item):
    do_something($item);
endforeach;

?>

<?php foreach ($collection as $item): ?>
    <p>Do something in HTML with <?php echo $item; ?></p>
<?php endforeach; ?>

Alternative switch statement

<?php

switch ($condition):
    case $value:
        do_something();
        break;
    default:
        do_something_else();
        break;
endswitch;

?>

<?php switch ($condition): ?>
<?php case $value: /* having whitespace before your cases will cause an error */ ?>
    <p>Do something in HTML</p>
    <?php break; ?>
<?php default: ?>
    <p>Do something else in HTML</p>
    <?php break; ?>
<?php endswitch; ?>

Syntax

• structure: /* code */ endstructure;

Remarks

When mixing the alternative structure for switch with HTML, it is important to not have any whitespace between the initial switch($condition): and first case $value:. Doing this is attempting to echo something (whitespace) before a case.

All control structures follow the same general idea. Instead of using curly braces to encapsulate the code, you’re using a colon and endstructure; statement: structure: /* code */ endstructure;