Function or include?

bizshop

Is there an advantage to using functions versus including a file that contains the code? Instead of function login, I just include login.php that is nothing but the code that works.

I've found it easier to just have lots of include statements to little files - you don't need to get the parameter counts right, worry about making variables global, etc... But I'm not a programmer and may be missing something important here.

Anon

Every time you use include() it calls a script from the server, just as when you request a webpage (albeit a small one).
Thus the more calls on the server the slower the program and greater strain on the server which is a big consideration.

Learn to use functions, they're really not so hard.

Good luck

Nick

brandonschnell

while it may work to use include() now, trying to maintain the code can soon become a nightmare. imho include() can be as evil as using goto statements.

variables can overwrite each other between include files, you must initialize every variable which can screw up code in the next include() file, and troubleshooting is torture (where/what was that file again?).

instead, group common functions in one include file. include the common functions file at the top of the page then call the functions when necessary. for functions that are related, create a class and use that.

[deleted]

All your arguments for using include() instead of functions are all the reasons why functions were invented in the first place 🙂

Functions give you the ability to re-use code instead of having to parse the same piece again and again.

They also force some programming discipline by demanding that you give the right parameters. If a parameter is missing the function will fail, so PHP gives an error to warn you.

And they have their own variable scope, which means that you can do whatever you like inside a function, without having to worry about messing up vars that are being used somewhere else in the code.

Anon

If you have a menu on every page, showing the exact same code, include() might be a good idea, but for smaller things, use functions. learn to use functions, its worth it!!