Is there a better way to write this php code?

return'
    <li>
    <a href="nano.com/' . $username . '"><img class="avatar" src="images/' . $picture . '" width="48" height="48" alt="avatar" /></a>
    <div class="tweetTxt">
    <strong><a href="nano.com/' . $username . '">' . $username . '</a></strong> '. autolink($tweet).'
    <div class="date">'.relativeTime($dt).'</div><div class="date">'. $reply_info . '</div> <a class ="reply"  开发者_运维百科href="home.php?replyto=@'. $username .'&status_id='. $id .'&reply_name=' .$username.'"> reply </a>

    </div>
    <div class="clear"></div>
    </li>';

I was wondering if there is a cleaner way to write this code, and taking in mind processing time, if that really means anything.

p.s. this code is part of a function, this is the return statement!

---

Yes. Use double quotes for the PHP string (and single quotes for the HTML attributes), then you can just use PHP variables in the string, like so:

"<a href='nano.com/$username'>";

Is processing time really an issue? I doubt it, but profile to be sure.

---

Edit: If anyone is unsure about using single quotes in HTML attributes, have a look at this question. It's pretty unanimously agreed that single quotes are fine. If anyone can give a decent counter-argument I'd be happy to hear it.

---

You could use HEREDOC syntax :

$auto = autolink($tweet);
$rel = relativeTime($dt);
return <<<ENDOFRETURN
    <li>
    <a href="nano.com/$username"><img class="avatar" src="images/$picture" width="48" height="48" alt="avatar" /></a>
    <div class="tweetTxt">
    <strong><a href="nano.com/$username">$username</a></strong> $auto
    <div class="date">$rel</div><div class="date">$reply_info</div> <a class ="reply"  href="home.php?replyto=@$username&status_id=$id&reply_name=$username"> reply </a>
    </div>
    <div class="clear"></div>
    </li>
ENDOFRETURN;

---

Cleaner template and php code -> use MVC

---

Yes, there is one, and you don't need MVC (only a template):

<li>
 <a href="nano.com/<?=$username ?>">
  <img class="avatar" src="images/<?=$picture ?>" width="48" height="48" alt="avatar" />
 </a>
 <div class="tweetTxt">
  <strong><a href="nano.com/<?=$username ?>"><?=$username ?></a></strong>
  <? echo autolink($tweet) ?>
  <div class="date"><?=relativeTime($dt) ?></div>
  <div class="date"><?=$reply_info ?></div>
  <a class="reply" href="home.php?replyto=@<?=$username?>&status_id=<?=$id?>&reply_name=<?=$username?>">
  reply
  </a>
 </div>
 <div class="clear"></div>
</li>

Must read: http://wiki.yet-another-project.com/php/the_one_single_step_for_a_cleaner_code . It describes how you have to use the code above.

---

I would cut in several pieces and use sprintf() to tie it all together.

---

You can use a template engine i.e. smarty, twig, ...