global variables

[anatak]

I have a question about global variables.
I would like to create some vars that are available throught the whole program
for example domain name (if you ever change domain name you don't have to go search throught your code)
another one would be default language for a multilanguage website.

What would be the best way to do this ?
I know about the $_GLOBALS array but I thought that $_GLOBALS are unsafe to use for some reason.

can anyone explain how I would be able to use a global variable ?

thank you
anatak

[trq]

You really should try and avoid globals where possible, you really shouldn't need them. Just define what you need as constants and include the file they are defined in when you need them.

[heckenschutze]

I totally agree with thorpe's reasoning, however this is how you use them:

[code]<?php
$myvar = "hello";

MyFunc();

function MyFunc()
{
    global $myvar;
    $myvar = "testing";  // my var is now 'testing'
}
?>[/code]

In my opinion how PHP handles scopes premotes bad coding practice, this allows you to have the same variable name in the global scope as in a function for example, but 2 totally different variables.

[anatak]

the problem with declaring them in a include file is that you have to include that file in every function that wants to read the values of the variables.
Would a public class containing the variable be a reasonable work around the insecurity global variable pose ?
EDIT
also if I include the file in every function am I not creating everytime new variables ?


anatak