In PHP, array() and [] are both used to create arrays, but they are slightly different.

array() is the traditional way to create an array in PHP, and it's a language construct. It can be used to create both indexed and associative arrays.

Example:

$fruits = array('apple', 'banana', 'orange');

On the other hand, [] is a shorthand syntax for creating arrays, introduced in PHP 5.4. It's an alternative to array() and is used to create arrays in a more concise way.

$fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange'];

Both methods can be used interchangeably, but [] is generally preferred for its brevity and readability.