PHP repeat an HTML element without using loop [duplicate]

Question

This might be crazy, but I was thinking there might be a shorthand way to do this without using a loop on one php line... over-optimizing fun!

$stars = 4; // four out of ten stars

print stars with a loop

for($i=0;$i<$stars;$i++){
 echo "<i class='fi-star'></i>";
}

print without loop

<?=implode("",array_fill(0,$stars,"<i class='fi-star'></i>"))?>

is there a simpler way?

"over-optimizing fun!" The simple for loop is probably faster than your fancy one-liner. — Rizier123
– Rizier123, Commented Mar 10, 2017 at 21:19
Any way you do this will probably involve a loop at some point in the code, potentially behind the scenes, so I don't know if this would be optimizing. — Carcigenicate
– Carcigenicate, Commented Mar 10, 2017 at 21:19
"is there a simpler way?" - Simpler than... a loop? If you want to repeat an action until a condition is met, that's exactly what a loop is for. You're likely saving nothing in optimization but costing time in obtuse code. Even if you somehow manage to save a millisecond is processing time, it's going to require a lot of application volume to make up for all the development time spent creating and supporting "clever code". — David
– David, Commented Mar 10, 2017 at 21:24

Cave Johnson · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-10 21:41:10Z

4

Yes, you can use the str_repeat function.

In your case, you can use it like this:

echo str_repeat("<i class='fi-star'></i>", $stars);

Note that this won't make your code any more efficient. It is just a shorthand way to do the same as what you are doing with the for loop.

answered Mar 10, 2017 at 21:19

Cave Johnson

6,8805 gold badges44 silver badges62 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Answer 1