PHP Include Function
PHP Include( ) The PHP include() statement holds all the code/text that liesin the defined file and paste it into the file that uses the "include" statement. With the help of include statement,we can insert the code/text of one PHP file into another PHP file(before server executes it). Including file saves a lot of time or work. It means that we can create a standard header, footer, body, or menu file for all web pages. When we need to update a header, footer, or any web page, we can only update the included files. Syntax:
include 'filename'Example1:
- We have a PHP file called "php":
<?php echo '<a href="#">Home</a> <a href="#">AboutUs</a> <a href="#">Gallery</a> <a href="#">Testimonials</a> <a href="#">Favorites</a> <a href="#">Login</a> <a href="#">Contact</a>'; ?>
- To include the "php" in a page, we use include statement.
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <h4>IncludeExample</h4> <?phpinclude 'nav.php';?> </body> </html>Output: IncludeExample
Home AboutUs Gallery Testimonials Favorites Login ContactExample2:
- We have a PHP file called "variable.php" with some defined variables:
<?php $animal='Lion'; $flower='Lily'; $fruit='Strawberry'; ?>
- We include the PHP file "variable.php", in the calling file:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <h4>IncludeVariableExample</h4> <?php include 'variable.php'; echo "$animal $flower $fruit." ?> </body> </html>
Difference between PHP include and require statements:
include | require |
---|---|
1) PHP include takes one argument, the filename that we want to include. | PHP required() to perform the same process as include() does, takes one argument, the filename that we want to require. |
2) Syntax: include 'filename'; example: include 'menu.php'; | Syntax: require 'filename'; example: require 'menu.php'; |
3) PHP include() does not stop execution. | PHP require() does stop execution once it gets a fatal error. |
4) PHP include() gives the warning,and it continues to execute the script, in case if filename not found. | If PHP require()found any problem like file not found or misnamed files and stops the execution once get a fatal error. |
5) We can use PHP include() when the file is not required or not so important. | When the script requires the file, it's better to use required(). |
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <h4>Included_File_Not_Exists</h4> <?php include 'filenotexists.php'; echo "IncludeExample." ?> </body> </html>Output:
Included_File_Not_Exists
Warning: include(filenotexists.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\xampp\htdocs\inc.php on line 5 IncludeExample. In the above example, a file (filenotexists) is included with the include statement and PHP cannot find it, the PHP script will continue to execute. Example 4:<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <h4>Require_File_Not_Exists</h4> <?php require 'filenotexists.php'; echo "RequireExample." ?> </body> </html>Output:
Require_File_Not_Exists
Fatal error: require(): Failed opening required 'filenotexists.php' (include_path='C:\xampp\php\PEAR') in C:\xampp\htdocs\req.php on line 5 In the above example, the echo statement will not be executed because the script execution dies after the require statement returned the fatal error.- PHP include_once:
- PHP require_once: