abreviating echo commands

Hello.. I forget where but I found some source awhile back that abbreviated echo. It was something like <?=$var;?> which worked the same as <? echo $var; ?>. Maybe it was <?\=$var;?>.. Obviously I dont remember.. which is why I am asking.. :) Does anyone have a link to something that talks about how to abbreviate commands in PHP? Well.. not how to.. but just a list of abbreviations? Is echo the only one that has an abbreviation? I couldn't find anything in the manual.. any leads? Thanks, Kris