So, the very begginning of php right here.
There are 4 different ways to start a PHP file.
The first and most common way is <?php.
The second way and second most popular way to start a file, is simply <?. How simple right! Yet, this second version causes problems, as some servers do not allow the short tag.
The third and oldest would be this: <script language="php">.
The last way to open a PHP page is the same as Microsoft's ASP.NET script; like so: <%.
Offcourse, you only ever need to use one of these. I would suggest useing <?php. Simply becaise all severs can handle it and its up to date.
Ok, now you know how to start a file, how do we end it?
Well, for the first two opening tags (<?php & <?) its the same closing tag. This tag is simple; ?>.
For the third opening tag, we use another HTML tag: </script>.
The last tag is just like the first closing tag. Except this one uses a % instead of a ? So this tag is: %>.
Now, you can 'mix & match these opening and closing tags, for example, this next part will work: (although the forum doesnt highlight them correctly)
<script language="php">
echo'Something';
?>
And,
<?php
echo'Something';
%>
will work also.