Using Backslashes

[Michael Roush]

As has already been touched on, what you are seeing is the proper syntax
for XML/XHTML.  In HTML, some tags (for instance,
, , <img>) have
no closing tag.  In XML (of which XHTML is a hybrid version still readable
by HTML-onbly browsers), *every* tag must have a closing tag. 
 by
itself is not proper XHTML, it should be written
</br>, and
 is
an allowable shorthand method.

If you are not using XHTML (check the <!doctype> tag at the top of your
document.  If there isn't one, there should be!), then you should not be
writing your tags with closing slashes.

[Wade]

When you have a tag that doesnt have a corresponding end tag, like <p>
and </p> compared to
, you put the a space and then the slash to
indicate that this is the end.

You would also use this at
    <input type="submit />

Its not specific to php, but a HTML characteristic.

[Robert]

Ok I searhed for this in the english version of the php manual but
could not find the answer. Often when I am reading a coding example I
see code of the type
 With the backslash BEHIND the Closing HTML
tag and with a space inbetween the tag and the backslash. This seems
backward fromt he way I learned html coding. Is the something special
to php and if so what does it do. As I said I searched the manual
for ,<space> />,backslash, and "/>" But none of the hits seemed to
descript that syntax.