PHP Website Structure Question

[RaythMistwalker]

ok atm my php website is mostly run off different php files (index.php profile.php etc)

 

I know that i can also display information based on 1 page by using:

index.php?src=profile

 

then use

$src=$_GET['src'];

if ($src == 'profile') {
Show profile section here
}

 

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to doing it this way as opposed to multiple files?

[cags]

One advantage is that dynamic page systems like this can be database driven, allowing you to easily add, remove and edit pages. If the developer of the site creates a decent CRUD system, it means even people without web development knowledge can create new content for the site through a web interface. One slight disadvantage is that to some degree it complicates your code as your having to add a large switch statement to include the relevant pages, but depending on your code structure this is generally a really minor point.

[RaythMistwalker]

so it has the advantage that I don't have to open a mysql connection every time i load a page since i have it opening when the page opens?

[ignace]

No you still have to create a db connection however if your smart you apply caching and the entire website will be run off on static html pages which get replaced once the user update a page in the back-end.

 

And by update I mean get the new content apply the template and instead of rendering you store it's output to a html file. If your CMS also provides "slugs" like blogs do, you get:

 

about-us.html

[teamatomic]

Why switchs?

 

$src=$_GET['page'];

if (!file_exists("$path_content/$page.php")

{

$src='index';

}

include("$path_content/$src.php");