PHP Formatter

Tool Overview

This PHP formatter helps you make PHP code readable and organized. It takes messy or inconsistent PHP code and formats it according to style standards. It follows PSR-12, which is the official PHP style guide.

You paste your PHP code into the tool, and it automatically formats it with proper indentation and spacing. You can choose between spaces or tabs for indentation, and set the indentation size. You can also choose how braces are placed in your code. The tool shows you what changed and helps you understand your code structure.

This tool is for PHP developers, web developers, and anyone who works with PHP code. It helps when you receive PHP code from other sources, when you need to clean up your own files, or when you want to follow style standards. You should know basic PHP to use this tool effectively.

The main problem it solves is that PHP code often has inconsistent formatting. When PHP code has wrong indentation or spacing, it is difficult to read and may not follow community standards. This tool makes PHP code readable and follows official style guidelines.

Background & Concept Explanation

PHP is a programming language used to build websites and web applications. It runs on servers and creates dynamic web pages. PHP uses functions, classes, and objects to organize code. It is widely used for building websites and web services.

PSR stands for PHP Standards Recommendations. PSR-12 is the official style guide for PHP code. It tells developers how to write PHP code that is easy to read and consistent. Most PHP projects follow PSR standards.

PSR-12 has specific rules about formatting. It says to use 4 spaces for indentation, not tabs. It says opening braces for classes and functions should be on a new line. It says to put spaces around operators like equals and plus. It says to remove trailing whitespace at the end of lines. A related operation involves formatting HTML markup as part of a similar workflow.

When working with PHP, people often face formatting challenges. Code from different sources may use different indentation styles. Some code uses tabs instead of spaces. Some code has inconsistent spacing around operators. Manual formatting takes time and is easy to get wrong.

PHP formatting means applying consistent rules to code structure. Indentation shows which code belongs to which block. Spacing makes operators and expressions easier to read. Brace placement affects how code looks and reads. These rules create a visual structure that matches the code logic.

Different formatting styles exist for different needs. PSR-12 style follows the official PHP style guide exactly. K&R style puts opening braces on the same line as the function name. Each style has its own rules and benefits.

The PHP formatter combines formatting and validation into one tool. It reads your PHP code, formats it according to your chosen style, and checks if it is valid. This saves time and helps you write code that follows community standards.

Key Features

• PSR-12 compliant formatting. The tool formats PHP code according to PSR-12 standards. This includes proper indentation, brace placement, and operator spacing. Following PSR-12 makes your code consistent with most PHP projects.
• Configurable indentation. You can choose between spaces or tabs for indentation. You can set the indentation size to 2, 4, or 8 spaces. This lets you match your project's coding style and team preferences.
• Brace placement styles. You can choose how braces are placed in your code. PSR-12 style puts opening braces for classes and functions on a new line. K&R style puts opening braces on the same line as the function name. This lets you match common coding standards.
• Operator spacing. The tool adds proper spacing around operators like equals, plus, and minus. It follows PSR-12 rules for operator spacing. This makes expressions easier to read and understand.
• Preserve empty lines option. You can choose to keep or remove empty lines in your code. When enabled, empty lines are preserved as you wrote them. When disabled, extra empty lines are removed for cleaner code.
• Diff view to see changes. You can view the original and formatted PHP side by side. The diff view highlights what changed, making it easy to see exactly what the formatter did. This helps you verify that only formatting changed, not the code logic.
• PHP statistics display. The tool shows useful information about your code. It displays file size, number of lines, number of functions, number of classes, and code complexity. This helps you understand the structure and complexity of your PHP at a glance.
• File upload support. You can upload PHP files directly instead of pasting code. The tool accepts .php and .txt files up to 10 megabytes in size. This is useful for large files or when working with saved PHP documents.
• Copy and download. You can copy the formatted PHP to your clipboard with one click. You can also download it as a .php file to save on your computer. This makes it easy to use the formatted code in other tools or share it with others.
• Real-time formatting. The tool processes PHP as you type or paste it. It uses smart timing to avoid slowing down your browser, even with large files. Results appear quickly without needing to click a button.
• AI-powered code analysis. You can request AI analysis of your PHP code. The AI reviews your code and provides suggestions for improvement. This helps you write better code and learn best practices.
• Size limits and validation. The tool accepts PHP files up to 10 megabytes in size. It checks the size before processing to prevent browser crashes. If your file is too large, it shows a clear error message explaining the limit.
• Error handling. If formatting fails, the tool shows a clear error message. This helps you understand what went wrong and how to fix it. The original PHP is preserved even if formatting fails.

Common Use Cases

A PHP developer receives code from a team member that has inconsistent formatting. They paste it into the formatter and choose PSR-12 style. They can then see the code formatted according to official standards.

A web developer needs to clean up PHP scripts before sharing them. They use the formatter to ensure all code follows the same style. This makes the code easier for others to read and understand. For adjacent tasks, formatting SQL queries addresses a complementary step.

A developer needs to format PHP code before committing it to version control. They use the formatter to ensure consistent style across the project. The diff view helps them see exactly what changed during formatting.

A student learning PHP needs to understand proper formatting. They paste example code and use the formatter to see how it should look. The visual indentation helps them learn PHP structure.

A developer working on a team needs to follow project style guidelines. They use the formatter with the project's preferred indentation and brace style. This ensures their code matches the rest of the project.

A developer receives PHP code from a library or framework that needs formatting. They paste it into the formatter and see it formatted with clear indentation. They can then easily understand the structure and make changes.

A developer wants to optimize their PHP code for better readability. They use the AI analysis feature to get suggestions for improvements. The AI analyzes the code and recommends ways to make it more efficient.

A developer needs to compare two versions of PHP code. They format both versions and use the diff view to see differences. This makes it easier to spot changes and understand what was modified. When working with related formats, beautifying source code can be a useful part of the process.

How to Use This Tool (Step-by-Step)

1. Open the PHP formatter tool. You will see two panels side by side, one for input and one for output.
2. Paste or type your PHP code into the input panel on the left. You can paste PHP from any source, such as a file, a website, or code editor. Alternatively, click the Upload button to select a PHP file from your computer.
3. Click the Settings button to see formatting options. You can adjust indentation style, indentation size, brace style, and empty line preservation. These options let you fine-tune the formatting to match your exact needs.
4. Choose your indentation style. Click Spaces to use spaces for indentation, or Tabs to use tabs. Most PHP projects use spaces, but some use tabs.
5. Select your indentation size. Choose 2 Spaces, 4 Spaces, or 8 Spaces from the dropdown. PSR-12 recommends 4 spaces, which is the default.
6. Choose your brace style. Select PSR-12 to put opening braces on a new line. Select K&R to put opening braces on the same line. PSR-12 is the recommended style for modern PHP.
7. Optionally check Preserve Empty Lines if you want to keep empty lines as written. Uncheck it if you want the formatter to remove extra empty lines. This helps control the final appearance of your code.
8. Watch the output panel on the right. The formatted PHP appears automatically as you type or paste. The formatting happens in real time with a short delay to avoid slowing down your browser.
9. Check the status bar below the controls. If it shows Formatted successfully, your code formatted successfully. If it shows an error, review the error message to understand what went wrong.
10. Review the statistics shown in the status bar. These show number of lines, functions, classes, and file size. This helps you understand your PHP structure.
11. Click the diff view button to see a side-by-side comparison. This shows exactly what changed between original and formatted versions. It helps you verify that only formatting changed, not the code logic.
12. For code analysis, click the AI Analyze button. This uses AI to review your PHP and suggest improvements. Wait for the analysis to complete, then review the explanation and suggestions.
13. Use the copy button to copy the formatted PHP to your clipboard. This is in the top right of the controls bar. Click it to copy the formatted code.
14. Optionally use the download button to save the formatted code as a .php file. This is next to the copy button. Click it to download the file to your computer.
15. Verify the formatted PHP looks correct. Check the diff view to see exactly what changed. Make sure no important code logic was modified, only formatting.
16. To start over, click the clear button to remove all input and output. This gives you a fresh start for new PHP code.

Calculations & Logic

PHP formatting works by parsing the PHP structure and then reformatting it with consistent spacing. The tool processes each line of code and applies formatting rules based on your chosen options. It identifies code blocks, operators, and expressions, then applies proper indentation and spacing.

Indentation is added based on the nesting level of code blocks. Each level of nesting adds the chosen number of spaces or one tab. Code blocks that start with opening braces get indented on the next line. Closing braces decrease the indentation level.

Brace placement depends on the chosen style. PSR-12 style puts opening braces for classes, functions, interfaces, traits, and enums on a new line. It also puts opening braces for control structures like if and for on a new line. K&R style keeps opening braces on the same line as the function or control structure.

Operator spacing rules are applied around operators and punctuation. Operators like equals, plus, minus, and comparison operators get spaces on both sides. Commas get a space after them but not before. Semicolons get proper spacing. These rules follow PSR-12 standards for readability.

Empty line handling depends on the preserve newlines option. When enabled, empty lines are kept as written. When disabled, extra consecutive empty lines are removed. This helps control the final appearance of your code.

Statistics are calculated by analyzing the PHP code. File size is measured by converting the PHP string to bytes. Line count comes from splitting the PHP string by newline characters. Function count is found by matching function declaration patterns. Class count is found by matching class declaration patterns. Complexity is estimated by counting control flow statements like if, else, for, while, and switch. In some workflows, beautifying PHP is a relevant follow-up operation.

Diff calculation compares the original and formatted PHP line by line. It uses a simple algorithm to find differences between the two versions. Lines that changed are marked appropriately. This helps verify that only formatting changed, not code logic.

The tool uses debouncing to avoid processing PHP too frequently. When you type or paste, it waits a short time before processing. This prevents the browser from slowing down when working with large files or fast typing. Processing happens in the background so the interface stays responsive.

Error handling catches problems during formatting. If the PHP cannot be formatted, the tool shows an error message. The original PHP is preserved even if formatting fails. This ensures you never lose your code due to formatting errors.

Tips, Limitations & Best Practices

Always choose a formatting style that matches your project's guidelines. If your team uses PSR-12, stick with PSR-12 style. If they use K&R, use K&R style. Consistency makes code reviews and collaboration easier.

Use the diff view to verify formatting changes. This shows exactly what changed between original and formatted versions. It helps you confirm that only spacing and indentation changed, not the actual code logic.

Choose indentation that matches your project's style guide. Most PHP projects use 4 spaces. Some projects use 2 spaces or tabs. Check your project's style guide to see what it recommends. For related processing needs, formatting JSON data handles a complementary task.

The tool has a 10 megabyte size limit for input files. If your PHP is larger, consider splitting it into smaller files or processing it in parts. Very large files can slow down your browser or cause memory issues.

Remember that formatting only changes whitespace, not functionality. Formatted PHP runs exactly the same as the original. However, always test formatted PHP to ensure it works correctly.

The AI analysis feature helps understand complex PHP code. Use it when you want suggestions for improving your code. Keep in mind that AI analysis may take a moment to complete.

Save important PHP before formatting if you are unsure. While formatting is usually safe, having a backup ensures you can restore the original if needed. This is especially important for production code or critical scripts.

Use consistent formatting across your project. Format all PHP files the same way to maintain readability. This makes it easier for team members to read and understand code.

Be aware that some PHP features may not format perfectly. Very complex code or unusual syntax might not format as expected. Always review formatted PHP to ensure it looks correct.

The tool preserves comments and docblocks during formatting. Comments are kept in their original positions. Docblocks maintain their structure while improving readability. This maintains the documentation of your PHP while improving code style.

PSR-12 compliance helps your code work with modern PHP tools. Many PHP frameworks and libraries expect PSR-12 formatted code. Using this formatter ensures your code follows these standards.

For very large PHP files, formatting may take a moment. Be patient and wait for processing to complete. The tool shows a processing indicator while it works.