# How to Correctly End a PHP Statement
The correct way to end a PHP statement is with a semicolon (`;`). PHP is highly reliant on correct syntax, just like any other programming language, and forgetting to end a PHP statement with a semicolon can result in errors and unexpected behavior.
A statement in PHP is a command that exists for the PHP interpreter to execute. In PHP syntax, each individual statement is separated by a semicolon. It functions as a separator, differentiating one statement from the next.
Let's take a look at an example:
```php
```
In this example, there are two PHP statements. The first one is `$hello = "Hello, world!";` where we're assigning the string "Hello, world!" to the variable `$hello`. The second statement, `echo $hello;`, is then printing the value of `$hello` to the screen. As you can see, both of these statements are ended with a semicolon.
Keep in mind that the end tag of a block of PHP code automatically implies a semicolon; there's no need to have a semicolon terminating the last line of a PHP block.
```php
```
In the above code, even though there is no semicolon after the `echo` statement, it is still correct because the end of the PHP code block (`?>`) automatically implies a semicolon.
Remember, consistently using semicolons to end your PHP statements is a best practice that can prevent errors. It creates readable code and makes it easier for others (and future you) to understand the code's flow.