why do single line comments in php comment everything out code example

Example 1: comments in php

//For a single line comment use //:
//this is a comment too
//for multi-line comments use /* and */:
/* <--start of multi-line comment
this is a comment

this is a comment too (end of multi-line comment)-->*/

Example 2: comment in php

MSpreij (8-May-2005) says  /* .. */ overrides //  
Anonymous (26-Jan-2006) says // overrides /* .. */

Actually, both are correct. Once a comment is opened, *everything* is ignored until the end of the comment (or the end of the php block) is reached.

Thus, if a comment is opened with: 
   //  then /* and */ are "overridden" until after end-of-line 
   /*  then // is "overridden" until after */