How to define constants in php? What's the difference

Methods to define constants: const or define(). Differences: 1. define can be used in both PHP4 and PHP5, while const can only be used in PHP 5.3.0 and later versions; 2. The constants defined by define() are defined when executing define(), but const is not.

The operating environment of this tutorial: windows7 system, PHP5 version, DELL G3 computer

As we all know, in PHP (PHP 4 and later), We can use the function define() to define constants, for example:

However, after PHP 5.3.0, in addition to using the function define(), we can also use the PHP keyword const to define constants.

For example:

Although both of the above methods can define constants, what are the differences between them. Let's explain one by one the difference between the define() function and the const keyword in PHP to define constants:

First of all, there is no doubt that there are version differences between the two ways of defining constants. The function define( ) can be used in both PHP4 and PHP5. The keyword const can only be used in PHP 5.3.0 and later versions.

Secondly, since the constants defined by the function define() are defined when the define() function is executed, define() can be used anywhere within a function, within a loop, within an if statement, etc., where the function can be called. ) function definition constant. Unlike define(), since the constant defined by the const keyword is defined at compile time, the constant defined by the const keyword must be in the topmost scope. This also means that const cannot be used to define constants within functions, loops, and if statements.

Although the constant values defined by the keywords const and define() can only be null or scalar data (boolean, integer, float and string types) and resource types (it is not recommended to define resource type constants, otherwise Unpredictable results may occur). However, since the constant defined by the keyword const is defined at compile time, the expression of the constant value defined by the const keyword does not support arithmetic operators, bitwise operators, comparison operators and other operators, and these operators They can be used directly when defining constants in the define() function.

In addition to the above three differences, there is also a less eye-catching difference. The function define() can receive the third parameter. If this parameter is true, it means that the constant name is not case-sensitive. However, using the const keyword to define constants does not provide similar functionality.

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