storing settings (ini or php file)

[tao_zhyn]

I was wondering how others store settings for their php code?

What I mean is settings that will rarely change once set. Like how many News posts to show per page. Or even the database name.

I don't think a database is good for this since this data is fairly static and I think it would be quicker from a file.

Do people use ini files?
Or just plain php file with Defines and declaring variables?

If using ini files, I know there is a function to read in ini files to a variable. Is there a speed hit in using this function compared to a php file variables inside it.

The bonus to using ini files is the ability for the end user to change the file easily. Since they will more than likely be able to understand the ini format better than a php file.

[drew010]

usually in that case it is much faster and easier to just use a php file with defines and variables...

<?php

define("MY_PATH", "/home/user/public_html/stuff");

$numToShow = 5;

$adminEmail = "[e-mail]";

?>

as far as i know there are no builtin functions for parsing an ini file.

[acidbox]

If the variable is a one-time setting that an administrator will set, then it is ok to store it in a config.php or sometihng similar. If the variable is something that an end-user or someone without direct file access (or knowledge of how to do it), then a database configuration will be more preferable.

But yes, the DEFINE function is great for setting paramters that will be used throughout a site. Especially because you don't have to set them as global to use inside a function.

[rehfeld]

ive always just used php files for config settings, mostly using define()

parse_ini_file() i would imagine has more overhead, and you cant use define() so i dont personally use it.