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PHP 5 Constants


Once a constant value is defined, it cannot be changed anywhere else in the script.


PHP Constants

A constant is an identifier for a simple value. The value cannot be changed during the script.

A constant consists of English letters, underscores, and numbers, but the number cannot be the first character. (The constant name does not require a $ modifier).

Note: Constants can be used throughout the script.


Setting PHP Constants

To set a constant, use the define() function, which has the following syntax:

bool define ( string $name , mixed $value [, bool $case_insensitive = false ] )

The function has three parameters:

The following example creates a case-sensitive constant with the value "Welcome to tutorialpro.org":

Example

<?php
// Case-sensitive constant name
define("GREETING", "Welcome to tutorialpro.org");
echo GREETING;    // Outputs "Welcome to tutorialpro.org"
echo '<br>';
echo greeting;   // Outputs "greeting" with a warning, indicating the constant is undefined
?>

The following example creates a case-insensitive constant with the value "Welcome to tutorialpro.org":

Example

<?php
// Case-insensitive constant name
define("GREETING", "Welcome to tutorialpro.org", true);
echo greeting;  // Outputs "Welcome to tutorialpro.org"
?>

Constants are Global

Constants, once defined, are global variables by default and can be used anywhere in the script.

The following example demonstrates using a constant inside a function, even if the constant is defined outside the function.

Example

<?php
define("GREETING", "Welcome to tutorialpro.org");

function myTest() {
    echo GREETING;
}

myTest();    // Outputs "Welcome to tutorialpro.org"
?>
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