Use the ternary operator for simple conditional assignments: $status = $userLoggedIn ? 'active' : 'guest'; 2. Apply the null coalescing operator (??) to assign default values: $username = $_GET['user'] ?? 'anonymous'; 3. Utilize combined assignment operators like = and .= to streamline arithmetic and string operations: $count = 1; $message .= ' more text'; 4. Employ short echo tags (=) in templates for cleaner output: = $title ?>; 5. Leverage the null coalescing assignment operator (??=) to set values only if not already set: $options ??= []; These shorthand techniques make PHP code more concise, readable, and efficient when used appropriately, leading to cleaner and maintainable scripts.

PHP’s shorthand expressions can make your code cleaner, faster to write, and sometimes even more efficient—especially when handling variable assignments. These concise syntax options not only reduce verbosity but also help streamline logic in common programming patterns. Let’s explore how to optimize variable assignments using PHP’s shorthand features.

1. Ternary Operator for Simple Conditional Assignments

Instead of writing full if-else blocks for basic assignments, use the ternary operator (?:) to assign values conditionally in one line.

// Verbose way
if ($userLoggedIn) {
    $status = 'active';
} else {
    $status = 'guest';
}

// Shorthand
$status = $userLoggedIn ? 'active' : 'guest';

This is ideal when you're assigning one of two values based on a condition. It keeps your code readable and compact.

Tip: Avoid nesting ternary operators ($a ? $b : $c ? $d : $e)—they hurt readability. Use parentheses or switch to if/else for complex logic.

2. Null Coalescing Operator (??) for Default Values

One of the most useful shorthands in modern PHP (7.0 ) is the null coalescing operator. It simplifies checking whether a variable is set and not null.

// Without shorthand
$username = isset($_GET['user']) ? $_GET['user'] : 'anonymous';

// With null coalescing
$username = $_GET['user'] ?? 'anonymous';

You can even chain it:

$displayName = $user['name'] ?? $user['username'] ?? 'Guest';

This replaces verbose isset() checks and is perfect for fallbacks in arrays, superglobals, or object properties.

3. Combined Assignment Operators for Arithmetic and Strings

Use compound assignment operators to shorten repetitive variable updates.

// Instead of:
$count = $count   1;
$message = $message . ' more text';

// Use:
$count  = 1;
$message .= ' more text';

Common shorthand assignment operators include:

• =, -= (add/subtract)
• *= , /=, %= (multiply/divide/modulus)
• .= (concatenate strings)

These reduce redundancy and clearly express intent—especially useful in loops or accumulators.

4. Short Echo Tags and <?= in Templates

In PHP templates (like views), use short echo tags to output variables cleanly:

<!-- Instead of -->
<?php echo $title; ?>

<!-- Use -->
<?= $title ?>

Make sure short_open_tag is enabled in php.ini, or rely on <?=, which is always available as of PHP 5.4 .

This improves readability in HTML-heavy files and reduces visual clutter.

5. Null Coalescing Assignment (??=) – Set Only If Not Already Set

Introduced in PHP 7.4, this operator assigns a value only if the variable isn’t already set.

// Only set $options if it's not already defined
$options ??= [];

// Equivalent to:
if (!isset($options)) {
    $options = [];
}

This is great for lazy initialization or default configuration arrays.

Final Thoughts

Shorthand expressions aren’t just about typing less—they promote cleaner, more maintainable code when used appropriately. But remember:

• Prioritize readability over brevity.
• Avoid over-nesting or combining too many shorthands.
• Use them where intent is clear and logic is simple.

Used wisely, these tools help you write PHP that’s both efficient and easy to understand.

Basically: keep it simple, default safely, and assign smartly.

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