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# Alternative syntax for control structures

PHP offers an alternative syntax for some of its control structures; namely, `if`, `while`, `for`, `foreach`, and `switch`. In each case, the basic form of the alternate syntax is to change the opening brace to a colon (:) and the closing brace to `endif;`, `endwhile;`, `endfor;`, `endforeach;`, or `endswitch;`, respectively.

    <?php if ($a == 5): ?>
    A is equal to 5
    <?php endif; ?>

In the above example, the HTML block "A is equal to 5" is nested within an `if` statement written in the alternative syntax. The HTML block would be displayed only if $a is equal to 5.

The alternative syntax applies to `else` and `elseif` as well. The following is an `if` structure with `elseif` and `else` in the alternative format:

    if ($a == 5):
        print "a equals 5";
        print "...";
    elseif ($a == 6):
        print "a equals 6";
        print "!!!";
    else:
        print "a is neither 5 nor 6";
    endif;

See also while, for, and if for further examples.

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