Structuring a PHP Script

[phillipe2007]

Can someone please recommend the best way to structure a PHP script? Lately I've been placing everything in the one script and using an action variable to tell the script what to do - for example: users.php?action=new, users.php?action=insert, users.php?action=list, users.php?action=edit, users.php?action=update, users.php?action=delete. Whilst this creates a single file for all the user options, it does present the problem of an overly long script - especially if the user form has many fields to it. Would it make sense to separate the script out into smaller parts...? For exampe: userAdd.php (containing the user form and insert query), userList.php (containing the select query and while loop) and finally userEdit.php (containing the form, update and delete queries). Is this a better way to go? Your opinions and help would be much appreciated.

[NogDog]

I suppose that there is a small performance gain to be had by using separate files that are kept to as small an amount of code as possible (less code to compile on each page request). However, that gain is probably only measured in a few milliseconds at the most, so unless optimum performance is a high priority on your site, I would go with whatever method makes it easiest for you to maintain your code.

As I mostly do things now in an OOP way, I can visualize what you described as a single class file with separate methods for each functionality. Then the main script would instantiate that class and call the applicable method depending on the value from the URL query string.

[alimadzi]

Asking a group of PHP programmers the best way to structure a PHP script is a lot like asking a group of authors the best way to write a book. We all have our ways of doing things so best practices can be hard to pin down.

[phillipe2007]

Thanks for your replies - I'll keep experimenting until I find a best fit solution.