# Painfully basic php syntax question

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/painfully-basic-php-syntax-question/244251>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [November 15, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/painfully-basic-php-syntax-question/244251 "2007-11-15T16:16:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dragonfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e8cbc/32.png) [@dragonfly](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/dragonfly)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/painfully-basic-php-syntax-question/244251/1 "2007-11-15T16:16:07Z")

</div>

in a statement like:

```auto
<?php if ($block->subject): ?>...<?php endif; ?>

```

what does the “-\>” mean. this information seems strangely elusive from w3schools.

also in a statement like:

```auto
$families = array
(
  "Griffin"=>array
  (
  "Peter",
  "Lois",
  "Megan"
  ),
  "Quagmire"=>array
  (
  "Glenn"
  ),
  "Brown"=>array
  (
  "Cleveland",
  "Loretta",
  "Junior"
  )
);

```

what does the “=\>” mean?

If there is a site or page at w3schools that lists this information PLEASE point me to it.