The PHP Include Construct Easily Explained
Saving time on a web design project is going to do two things. First, it is going to make for a happier client since the job is completed faster. Second, the web designer saves time and maximizes their earnings per hour as a result. One of these time-saving measures we use is the include construct.
The include construct in PHP is actually a lot like a function, but we call it a language construct simply because we view it as a piece of the PHP language. The include construct in particular is going to enable a web developer to include a remote file into the currently running application. It may seem unexciting, but this is a very big time saver.
The number one reason to use a PHP include is to save time. As it is said, time is money, and saving time can give way to more work- which means more money. Time is saved with the PHP include since we can use includes to dynamically change multiple pages at once. By referencing a single remote file on each page, we can update every page through one file.
The average “neat freak” will also see benefit from the PHP include statement. PHP includes save many lines of code for those who use them properly. By saving lines of code, it should not be thought that performance is increasing- if anything, it is decreasing. All we are doing is taking out the nonsense code and focusing on other parts of the current application.
Another good function of the PHP include is to keep things in working order. If an include fails, we are going to get a visible error message. Now this isn’t always a good thing, since some error messages will expose confidential information about the running script. In more precise situations, we would use the require construct to halt the entire script should it not complete correctly.
PHP includes will only work under the PHP extension, so it’s urged that web developers only use the PHP extension if working on a large website. The HTML extension is starting to become less seen, as it will not support the many functions PHP can aid it with. DHTML is an alternative, but where possible all web designers should migrate to the PHP bandwagon. After all, the top paying web design jobs are going to require working knowledge of many systems.
In Conclusion
PHP is a great language for web developers to learn, but not only because of time saving constructs such as PHP include. PHP is a very robust and powerful language- and is an industry staple for web designers to learn and use in their works. To stay the top in one’s field, they’ll need an edge on the rest of their competition. Pick up the intricacies of PHP includes, and a web designer is on their way to success.
