XML Processing Instruction ( was " <? PHP vs. <?" )

At 10:50 AM 1/19/12 +0200, Teodor Cimpoesu wrote:

I was refering to whole story of using `<?' in xml docs. -- teodor

The "<?"...">" construct comes from SGML/XML - it is called a "Processing Instruction"(PI). It's general purpose is to allow application to leave pieces of information in the XML that aren't strictly part of the content but allow it to help process it. Classic use of it to put in page formatting information into content ( pagebreaks, page no's etc ) that is only relevant to the paper production system. Part of the problems is that multiple different applications can use PI's, so they need to be able to tell which ones are their's - therefore the first thing that should go in a PI is some kind of indication as to which application requires it. Therefore: Always "<?php" is a much better idea than "<?" Regs Brian White ------------------------- Brian White Step Two Designs Pty Ltd - SGML, XML & HTML Consultancy http://www.steptwo.com.au/ bwhite@steptwo.com.au