Correct way of outputting a large block of HTML in PHP

Question

I am learning PHP (no programming experience) from a book. The examples in the book use a strange way of outputting a large block of HTML conditionally. It closes the PHP tag inside the conditional, and reopens it after outputting the HTML. I understand (after some head scratching) how it works, but it seems like a dodgy, not-intended-to-be-used-like-this, workaround.

<?php
    if(something == somethingelse) {
        echo "some message";
    }
     else {
?>
<big-block-of-html>
</big-block-of-html>
<?php }
?>

The book did introduce the heredoc syntax, but never used it. Is there a right way of doing this? It would seem more intuitive to output the HTML from within PHP.

Answer 1

That's exactly how PHP is supposed to be used and is much more readable, elegant and robust than all alternatives*. I'd just go for a better indented style:

<?php
    // normal
    // code
    // here
?>
<?php if ($foo) : ?>

    <div>
        <!-- more HTML -->
    </div>

<?php endif; ?>

* Unless you go for completely code-free templates like Smarty of course...