"Efficient?" Coding
<p>I dove into learning PHP a few months ago with out any programming experience. In the course of reading and trying to understand how code works, several times, I've come across examples of two or three scripts (written by different authors, of course) trying to achieve the same results.</p>

<p>In comparing those scripts, there always seems to be one that is easier to understand and usually shorter.</p>

<p>My question as a newbie to experts is: In you experience, is there such a thing as "streamlined" or "efficient" code? It seems to me (again a newbie--so admittedly I haven't seen that many) that some scripts look more complicated than they should be. Or do some programmers intentionally try to make them seem more esoteric?</p>

<p>I'm asking this for direction as to my mindset when approaching studies and, eventually--if I get to that point-- programming.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your feedback.</p>
