Thread: Include an External File

Intro

Have you ever wanted to shorten a page that you have made, or have you ever wanted to include that other document? Well here is your chance. PHP has a couple features like "require", "require_once", "include", & "include_once". And so now you can use them to your satisfaction after this tutorial.

The Difference Between Include and Require

There is a huge difference between including a file and requiring a file. When you include a file it still imports it like they all do, but if the file does not exist or some other error, then PHP will just skip over it and pop up and error where the file messed up at. But when require fells, it stops processing the file that you loaded and displays and error, unless you have errors off in which the user will get a blank page, or they will be directed to a error document. Here is a example of each type of include.

Include

Code:

<?php
include 'index.php';
?>

Include_Once

Code:

<?php
include_once 'index.php';
?>

Require

Code:

<?php
require 'index.php';
?>

Require_Once

Code:

<?php
require_once 'index.php';
?>

It is your choice which one you want to use.

What all file extensions will this include work on?

PHP is all that I know of.

Ok thank you.

I've seen php includes being used a lot for website headers and footers. Some people find it as an easy way to keep it updated without updating multiple pages.

Ya, I use them a lot. Normally I define variable like

Code:

<php 
$content = 'hi'; ?>

And then I put them in a external file and include it in the main. How do you use them?

I hope you don't mean exactly that. It would be a waste of time if you wanted to include " <php
$content = 'hi'; ?> " . :P

Personally, no, I haven't used php includes. But I've assisted people using it. And a friend keeps telling me how he's used it for his site's footer. As for me, I prefer the long way.

I use it for things like in templates.

Originally Posted by ciullaanthony

I use it for things like in templates.

Interesting. I'm pretty sure you use it for the headers or footers?

Well, the only down-side is that it doesn't look very professional if you view the source. :P