echo Output one or more strings echo stringarg1 stringargn... Outputs all parameters. echo is not actually a function (it is a language construct) so you are not required to use parentheses with it. In fact, if you want to pass more than one parameter to echo, you must not enclose the parameters within parentheses. It is not possible to use echo in a variable function context, but you can use print instead. ]]> echo also has a shortcut syntax, where you can immediately follow the opening tag with an equals sign. foo. ]]> This short syntax only works with the short_open_tag configuration setting enabled. See also print, printf, and flush.