Why is it important to separate processing (PHP code) from output (HTML) in PHP development for generating PDF files?
It is important to separate processing from output in PHP development for generating PDF files because it helps maintain clean and organized code, improves readability, and allows for easier debugging and maintenance. By separating processing logic (PHP code) from output (HTML), it becomes easier to generate PDF files with dynamic content without mixing presentation with functionality.
<?php
ob_start(); // Start output buffering
// Processing logic
$data = array(
'name' => 'John Doe',
'email' => 'john.doe@example.com'
);
// Output HTML content
echo '<h1>' . $data['name'] . '</h1>';
echo '<p>Email: ' . $data['email'] . '</p>';
$html = ob_get_clean(); // Get the buffered output and clean the buffer
// Generate PDF using a library like TCPDF or FPDF
require('tcpdf/tcpdf.php');
$pdf = new TCPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->writeHTML($html);
$pdf->Output('example.pdf', 'D');
?>