In PHP, there are two ways to include files: Require and Include. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but which one should you use? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the difference between Require and Include, and help you decide which is the best for your project.
What is Require?
Require in PHP is a language construct used to include a specific file during the execution of a program. This can be helpful for including external files that contain code or functions needed for the current program. Require will cause a fatal error and stop the execution of the program if the specified file cannot be found. On the other hand, include will only produce a warning and continue to execute the program. It is recommended to use require rather than include, as it ensures that the necessary files are included before continuing with execution. However, using require multiple times for the same file will only include it once, preventing duplicate code.
What is Include?
Include in PHP allows a developer to add outside files into the current PHP file being executed. This can be useful for including header or footer HTML files, or for incorporating external functions and classes. Include can also help with code organization and maintenance by separating different components into separate files. Include has multiple variations, such as include_once, which will only include a file once even if called multiple times, and require, which will produce an error if the specified file is not found. Overall, Include helps make PHP code more efficient and organized.
Difference between Require and Include
- When it comes to including external files in a PHP script, there are two main options: Require and Include. Both of these functions serve the same purpose, but there is an important distinction between them.
- Require will cause a fatal error if the specified file is not found, meaning that the script will stop executing. Include, on the other hand, will only produce a warning and the script will continue to run.
- In general, Require should be used when the file being included is crucial to the functioning of the script. Include can be used for more optional components. It is important to keep in mind that Require will also re-include the specified file every time it is called, whereas Include will only do so if it has not already been included.
Conclusion
Require and include are two important words in web development, but they have different meanings. When you require something, it is a must-have for the page to load correctly. If you include something, it is an extra that the user may or may not see. It’s important to understand the difference between these two terms because using them incorrectly can cause problems on your website.
