With a bit more extensive look at templating in PHP, Lineman.net has posted this new article with three different methods for creating and using templates in PHP.

Whether you design websites for a living or just for fun, PHP can be a powerful tool. For those unfamiliar with it, PHP is a programming language that has made its mark primarily as a scripting tool for generating dynamic Web content. In addition to its ability to create interactive Web pages, PHP can be a useful time-saver when used to create a templating system for websites.

PHP templating can be done using one of three general methods: pulling the template into your content, pulling your content into the template, or pulling both content and templating into and single file. Even if you are a complete novice to programming, just a few short snippets of code can make your development life easier.

The three methods he lists include: "Pulling the Template into your Content", "Pulling your Content into the Template", and "Pulling both your Content and the Template into a Single File". They all have advantages and disavantages, but it seems like the one used most often is the "pull the content in" model...