PHP Constants

PHP constants are name or identifier that can't be changed during the execution of the script except for magic constants, which are not really constants. PHP constants can be defined by 2 ways:

1. Using define() function
2. Using const keyword

Constants are similar to the variable except once they defined, they can never be undefined or changed. They remain constant across the entire program. PHP constants follow the same PHP variable rules. For example, it can be started with a letter or underscore only.

Conventionally, PHP constants should be defined in uppercase letters.

PHP constant: define()

Use the define() function to create a constant. It defines constant at run time. Let's see the syntax of define() function in PHP.

define(name, value, case-insensitive)

1. name: It specifies the constant name.
2. value: It specifies the constant value.
3. case-insensitive: Specifies whether a constant is case-insensitive. Default value is false. It means it is case sensitive by default.

Let's see the example to define PHP constant using define().

File: constant1.php

<?php
define("MESSAGE","Hello rookienerd PHP");
echo MESSAGE;
?>

Output:

Create a constant with case-insensitive name:

File: constant2.php

<?php  
define("MESSAGE","Hello rookienerd PHP",true);//not case sensitive  
echo MESSAGE, "</br>";  
echo message;  
?>

Output:

File: constant3.php

<?php
define("MESSAGE","Hello rookienerd PHP",false);//case sensitive
echo MESSAGE;
echo message;
?>

Output:

PHP constant: const keyword

PHP introduced a keyword const to create a constant. The const keyword defines constants at compile time. It is a language construct, not a function. The constant defined using const keyword are case-sensitive.

File: constant4.php

<?php
const MESSAGE="Hello const by rookienerd PHP";
echo MESSAGE;
?>

Output:

Constant() function

There is another way to print the value of constants using constant() function instead of using the echo statement.

Syntax

The syntax for the following constant function:

constant (name)

File: constant5.php

<?php	
	define("MSG", "rookienerd");
	echo MSG, "</br>";
	echo constant("MSG");
	//both are similar
?>

Output:

Constant vs Variables