What is the difference between "GLOBAL" and "STATIC" variable in PHP?

Question

What exactly is the difference between the GLOBAL and STATIC variables in PHP? And which one is preferable to use, when we want to use a variable in multiple functions?

Thanks.

Answer 1

A static variable just implies that the var belongs to a class but can be referenced without having to instantiate said class. A global var lives in the global namespace and can be referenced by any function in any class. Global vars are always frowned upon because they're so easily misused, overwritten, accidentally referenced, etc. At least with static vars you need to reference via Class::var;