Says "I forgot to add a space between first and last name"

hello Hannah Schauer , you have to put space like this ' then space and close it with '

<?php

//Place your code below this comment
$firstName = 'Rasmus';
$lastName = 'Lerdorf';
$fullname = $firstName . ' '. $lastName ;

?>

Not sure if this was resolved -

Your problem is likely centered around the usage of the concatenation assignment operator: .= This should be distinguished from the plain assignment operator =, which only assigns a new value to a given variable. In this case of strings, using .= will tack on a new value to the end of whatever previous value was stored in that variable. and then reassign that concatenated (combined) string value back into the same variable. Essentially, one replaces the value and other adds to it.

For example:

<?php
// Plain Assignment Example
$fruit = "apple";
$fruit = "banana";
echo $fruit // Displays: banana
// Concatenation Assignment Example
$fruit = "apple";
$fruit .= "banana";
echo $fruit // Displays: applebanana
?>

In this case, you should just use the plain assignment operator in all instances. The value being stored in $fullname the way you have it is: "RasmusRasmus Lerfod". As well, PHP will complain a bit if you try to use .= on a variable which has not already been assigned a value. Usage of that operator inherently assumes you are adding on to an existing variable and it does not make sense to use it if no value has yet been assigned. It's like you're constantly adding a number to nothing. It doesn't really make sense to do so, so PHP gives you a little notice to double-check if you are doing an intended action.

Fahad has a correct solution if you check his code. Alternatively, you could use double-quotes around the string and you wouldn't need the concatenation operator at all.

<?php

//Place your code below this comment
$firstName = 'Rasmus';
$lastName = 'Lerdorf';
$fullname = "$firstName $lastName";
?>

Try this $fullname = $firstName . " ".$lastName ;

You cannot concrete variable with declaring.