How to setup site-wide variables in php?

Question

I want to define something like this in php:

$EL = "\n<br />\n";

and then use that variable as an "endline" marker all over my site, like this:

echo "Blah blah blah{$EL}";

How do I define $EL once (in only 1 file), include it on every page on my site, and not have to reference it using the (strangely backwards) global $EL; statement in every page function?

Answer 1

Most PHP sites should have a file (I call it a header) that you include on every single page of the site. If you put that first line of code in the header file, then include it like this on every page:

 include 'header.php';

you won't have to use the global keyword or anything, the second line of code you wrote should work.

Edit: Oh sorry, that won't work inside functions... now I see your problem.

Edit #2: Ok, take my original advice with the header, but use a define() rather than a variable. Those work inside functions after being included.

Answer 2

Sounds like the job of a constant. See the function define().

Answer 3

Do this define ('el','\n\<\br/>\n'); save it as el.php

then you can include any files you want to use, i.e

echo 'something'.el; // note I just add el at end of line or in front

Hope this help

NOTE please remove the '\' after < br since I had to put it in or it wont show br tag on the answer...