Shortcode Functionality

/* Shortcode */
    function shortcode($args, $instance) {
        $hits = get_option("wphc_data");
        $style = get_option("wphc_style");
        $align = get_option("wphc_align");

        if ($align) {
            $alignment_options = "align='".$align."'";
        }

        echo "<div class='wordpress-hit-counter'".$alignment_options.">";
        if (get_option("wphc_pad_zeros") && strlen($hits) < 7) {
            for ($i = 0; $i < (7 - strlen($hits)); $i++) {
                echo "<img src='".WP_PLUGIN_URL."/wordpress-hit-counter/styles/$style/0.gif'>";
            }
        }
        echo preg_replace("/(\d)/", "<img src='".WP_PLUGIN_URL."/wordpress-hit-counter/styles/$style/$1.gif'>", $hits);
        echo "</div>";
    }
    add_shortcode("wHitCounter", "shortcode");