PHP echo printing additional characters

Question

I can class myself as a mid level PHP user, I have recently installed XAMPP on a new PC and noticed a strange behaviour while trying to run a simple php script. This is my script:

<?    
    $data_to = "<b>Line Print</b>";       
?>
<? echo($data_to); ?>

And this is what I am getting on the browser

Line Print"; ?>

Can some one please explain why?

Answer 1

Short opening tags ( <? ) are disabled in php.ini. Either edit PHP configuration or use <?php .

http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.short-open-tag

Answer 2

SOLUTION 1:

short_open_tag=On

in php.ini and restart your Apache server.

SOLUTION 2:

Use the <?php tags completely because <? is not recommended.

If you ever have to move your code to a server where it's not supported (and you can't enable it), then you're doomed. It's better to use the full syntax.