Latest PHP Coding Standards Changes: A Detailed Analysis with Practical Code Examples

Latest PHP Coding Standards Changes: A Detailed Analysis with Practical Code Examples

As technology evolves, coding standards for programming languages are continuously updated. PHP, a widely-used server-side language, is no exception, with its coding conventions undergoing constant improvement. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the latest PHP coding standards changes, focusing on the impact of changes in code indentation, function naming, comment conventions, and more, through real PHP code examples.

Code Indentation Standard Change

Previously, PHP coding standards recommended using four spaces for indentation. However, the latest PHP standards suggest using two spaces for indentation. This change results in more concise, cleaner code that is easier to read. Here is a comparison of the two indentation styles:

Old PHP Coding Standard:

function myFunction() {
    if (condition) {
        echo 'Hello World!';
    } else {
        echo 'Goodbye World!';
    }
}

New PHP Coding Standard:

function myFunction() {
  if (condition) {
    echo 'Hello World!';
  } else {
    echo 'Goodbye World!';
  }
}

By reducing the number of spaces per indentation level, the code becomes clearer, more logically structured, and easier to maintain.

Function and Method Naming Conventions

For a long time, PHP developers have used underscores to separate words in function and method names, like “my_function_name.” However, the new standards recommend using camelCase, such as “myFunctionName,” which improves readability and aligns with modern programming conventions. Here is a comparison of the two naming styles:

Old PHP Coding Standard:

function my_function_name() {
    // function body
}

New PHP Coding Standard:

function myFunctionName() {
    // function body
}

Using camelCase makes function and method names more readable and adheres to the standards of many other programming languages.

Commenting Conventions

Previously, PHP developers were encouraged to use double slashes (//) to start comments. However, the new PHP coding standard promotes the use of docblock-style comments, which allows for more detailed documentation of functions and methods, including their purpose, parameters, and return values. Here is a comparison of the two commenting styles:

Old PHP Coding Standard:

<span class="fun">// This is a comment</span>

New PHP Coding Standard:

/**
 * This is a comment
 */

Docblock comments provide more space for explaining the details of the code, making it easier for other developers to understand and use the code.

Conclusion

With the updates to PHP coding standards, developers need to adapt to the new guidelines. These changes make code simpler, more readable, and easier to maintain, ultimately improving development efficiency. Through the code examples in this article, you can clearly see how changes in indentation, naming conventions, and comments can enhance the quality and maintainability of your code. As a PHP developer, it is important to stay updated with these changes to remain competitive and efficient in your work.