| # PHP Short Open Tags
## Warning Do not use the short form (<? ?>) of PHP open tag; use the long form (<?php ?>). Always switch short form open tags to off in the PHP configuration file. ## Why Using short tags is discouraged because they are in conflict with XML's open tag (<?xml). If the file is actually XML, the PHP interpreter will process everything after the <? as PHP code, resulting in a parsing error. Another reason to always use full PHP opening tags is to avoid the unknown. For example, a hosting provider that doesn't allow short open tags (<? ?>) on their servers. ## Testing older scripts For testing older scripts, you can switch short open tags on temporarily. After testing, be sure to switch short form open tags off and retest the scripts. ## Converting older scripts Replace all occurrences of <? ?> with <?php ?> Replace all occurrences of <?= with <?php echo Replace all occurrences of <% %> with <?php ?> There's a similar issue with ASP-like <% %> tags. The Uniform Server Zero default is asp_tags = Off Replace all occurrences of <% %> with <?php ?> --oOo--