[SOLVED] __autoload or a single global include file?

[Cep]

Hi,

 

I understand to a degree the purpose of using the __autoload magic method but what advantage does it have over a single include file containing all the classes with require_once?

 

From what I can gleen, all it does is include the class file if the current class requires it but cannot find it in the current scope. Is the only advantage to using this magic method, so that I can take out a commonly used class in one project and place it in another project where it can directly reference any needed classes?

 

I am just trying to figure out why you would need to use this method over the single global include file?

[trq]

Using the __autoload approuch means that classes are only actually required when they are needed. Your global include file would include all files regardless if they where used or not.

[Cep]

Ah so its also a performance issue then in some respects, thanks thorpe!