PHP highlight_string() Function

The PHP highlight_string() function is used to syntax highlighting of a string. It prints out or returns html markup for a syntax highlighted version of the given PHP code using the colors defined in the built-in syntax highlighter for PHP.

Syntax

highlight_string(string, return)

Parameters

`string`	`Required.` Specify the PHP code to be highlighted. This should include the opening tag.
`return`	`Required.` If set to true it makes this function to return the highlighted code.

Return Value

If return is set to true, returns the highlighted code as a string instead of printing it out. Otherwise, it will return true on success, false on failure.

Example: highlight_string() example

The example below shows the usage of highlight_string() function.

<?php
//the PHP code which need to be highlighted
$str = "<?php phpinfo(); ?>";

//using the highlight_string() function
highlight_string($str);
?>

The output of the above code will be similar to (word wrapped for readability):

<code><span style="color: #000000">
<span style="color: #0000BB"><?php phpinfo</span>
<span style="color: #007700">(); </span>
<span style="color: #0000BB">?></span>
</span>
</code>

❮ PHP Miscellaneous Reference