[SOLVED] Most Efficient/Effective way to include functions

[rtadams89]

Hello all. Let me start by saying I have searched for this, but have not found a satisfactory answer. Probably because I am unsure of exactly what to search for.

 

I have a website with 10+ PHP pages. There are some functions that every page uses, some functions that a few of the pages use, and some functions that only get used on one page. Currently, all of these functions are in a file named "functions.php" which is 40KB in size. As the first line of all my content PHP pages, I have included

<?require($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/includes/functions.php');?>

to ensure these functions are available on each page.

 

Is this appropriate? Would it be better to have separate function files which contain "groups" of related functions, and then only include those "groups" that are needed on the particular page? Does including one large function file on every page perform better than including several smaller files on some pages?

[gevans]

For the sake of a 40kb file I'd save myself the hassle and include the full functions file on every page, I see no need to split it!

[redarrow]

Your doing it correctly.

 

Just make sure you comment the page out to no what function does what.

 

you might want to consider using include_once() apart from that it fine.

 

Good work.

 

 

[rtadams89]

Awesome. At point should I worry about using separate include files?

 

@redarrow: What would be the advantage of using the "include_once()" or "require_once()"? Since I am including the file at the top of the page, there doesn't seem to be a way for it to ever be accidentally loaded again...

[gevans]

It isn't a problem on smaller systems, but it is good practice for the future. If you do try and include it twice you'll see that you get an error.