PHP require vs include: Key Differences
In PHP, both require and include are statements used to include files, with their difference lying in error handling.
- When using the require statement to include a file, if the included file does not exist or the path is incorrect, it will result in the program terminating and displaying a fatal error. Require should be used when necessary, as it ensures that the program will not terminate due to a missing file if it is essential for the program to execute.
- When using the include statement to include a file, if the included file does not exist or the path is incorrect, the program will continue to execute and display a warning message. Include is used optionally, where if the included file is not necessary for the program to run, including it with include will not cause the program to terminate even if the file does not exist.
In general, require is used when something is essential, while include is used when something is optional. It is recommended to use require if the included file is necessary for the program to execute, and include can be used if the included file is optional and won’t cause the program to terminate.
