8.  DATABASE  PROGRAMMING  
WITH  

PHP  
   

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PHP   has   support   for   over   20   databases,   including   the   most   popular   commercial   and   open   source  
varieties.   Relational   database   systems   such   as   MySQL,   PostgreSQL,   and   Oracle   are   the   backbone   of  
most  modern  dynamic  web  sites.  In  these  are  stored  shopping-­‐cart  information,  purchase  histories,  
product  reviews,  user  information,  credit-­‐card  numbers,  and  sometimes-­‐even  web  pages  themselves.  

8.1  SQL  
 
SQL  stands  for  Structured  Query  Language,  and  it  is  a  very  powerful  and  diverse  language  used  to  
create  and  query  databases.  
 
The  loose  structure  and  flexibility  of  this  language  make  it  an  ideal  candidate  for  the  web.  There  are  
many  database  applications  available  for  developers  to  use  for  free,  such  as  MySQL.  
 
Some   of   the   basic   functions   of   SQL   are   inputting,   modifying,   and   dropping   data   from   databases.  
Coupled  with  the  use  of  web  languages  such  as  HTML  and  PHP,  SQL  becomes  an  even  greater  tool  for  
building  dynamic  web  applications.  
 
With  a  SQL  backend,  it  is  fairly  simple  to  store  user  data,  email  lists,  or  other  kinds  of  dynamic  data.  
E-­‐Commerce  web  sites,  community  sites,  and  online  web  services  rely  on  SQL  databases  to  manage  
user   data   or   process   user   purchases.   SQL   has   become   popular   among   web   developers   due   to   its  
flexibility  and  simplicity.  With  some  basic  knowledge  of  HTML,  PHP,  and  a  database  program  such  as  
MySQL,  a  developer  becomes  capable  of  creating  complex  websites  and  applications  while  relying  on  
online  web  services  to  provide  a  SQL  backend  in  which  user  data  is  stored.    

 
What  Can  SQL  do?  

• SQL  can  execute  queries  against  a  database  

• SQL  can  retrieve  data  from  a  database  
• SQL  can  insert  records  in  a  database  
• SQL  can  update  records  in  a  database  
• SQL  can  delete  records  from  a  database  
• SQL  can  create  new  databases  
• SQL  can  create  new  tables  in  a  database  
• SQL  can  create  stored  procedures  in  a  database  
• SQL  can  create  views  in  a  database  
• SQL  can  set  permissions  on  tables,  procedures,  and  view  

   

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DML  and  DDL  

SQL  can  be  divided  into  two  parts:  The  Data  Manipulation  Language  (DML)  and  the  Data  Definition  
Language  (DDL).  

The  query  and  update  commands  form  the  DML  part  of  SQL:  

• SELECT  -­‐  extracts  data  from  a  database  

• UPDATE  -­‐  updates  data  in  a  database  
• DELETE  -­‐  deletes  data  from  a  database  
• INSERT  INTO  -­‐  inserts  new  data  into  a  database  

The  DDL  part  of  SQL  permits  database  tables  to  be  created  or  deleted.  It  also  defines  indexes  (keys),  
specifies  links  between  tables,  and  imposes  constraints  between  tables.  The  most  important  DDL  
statements  in  SQL  are:  

• CREATE  DATABASE  -­‐  creates  a  new  database  

• ALTER  DATABASE  -­‐  modifies  a  database  
• CREATE  TABLE  -­‐  creates  a  new  table  
• ALTER  TABLE  -­‐  modifies  a  table  
• DROP  TABLE  -­‐  deletes  a  table  
• CREATE  INDEX  -­‐  creates  an  index  (search  key)  
• DROP  INDEX  -­‐  deletes  an  index  

What's  a  Database?    
A   SQL   database   is   nothing   more   than   an   empty   shell,   like   a   vacant   warehouse.   It   offers   no   real  
functionality   whatsoever,   but   does   provide   a   virtual   space   to   store   data.   Data   is   stored   inside   of  
database  objects  called  tables,  and  tables  are  the  containers  that  actually  hold  specific  types  of  data,  
such  as  numbers,  files,  strings,  and  dates.  A  single  database  can  house  hundreds  of  tables  containing  
1,000s  of  table  columns  each.  
 
SQL  coins  the  term  query  as  the  name  for  its  commands.  Basically,  all  SQL  code  is  written  in  the  form  
of   a   query   statement   and   then   executed   against   a   database.   All   SQL   queries   perform   some   type   of  
data  operation  such  as  selecting  data,  inserting/updating  data,  or  creating  data  objects  such  as  SQL  
databases   and   SQL   tables.   Each   query   statement   begins   with   a   clause   such   as   SELECT,   UPDATE,  
CREATE  or  DELETE.  
 

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CREATE  
SQL  CREATE  is  the  command  used  to  create  data  objects,  including  everything  from  new  databases  
and  tables  to  views  and  stored  procedures.  
 
SQL  Create  Database  Query:    
CREATE  DATABASE  MyDatabase;  

SQL is not case sensitive.

Data   is   stored   inside   SQL   tables,   which   are   contained   within   SQL   databases.   A   single   database   can  
house  hundreds  of  tables,  each  playing  its  own  unique  role  in  the  database  schema.    
 
SQL  tables  are  comprised  of  table  rows  and  columns.  Table  columns  are  responsible  for  storing  many  
different  types  of  data,  like  numbers,  texts,  dates,  and  even  files.  There  are  many  different  types  of  
table  columns  and  these  data  types  vary,  depending  on  how  the  SQL  table  has  been  created  by  the  
SQL  developer.  A  table  row  is  a  horizontal  record  of  values  that  fit  into  each  different  table  column.  
 
SQL  Create  Table  Query:    
USE  mydatabase;    
CREATE  TABLE  orders  (  
id  INT  IDENTITY(1,1)  PRIMARY  KEY,    
customer  VARCHAR(50),    
day_of_order  DATETIME,    
product  VARCHAR(50),    
quantity  INT);    
 
The   first   line   of   the   example,   "USE   mydatabase;",   is   pretty   straightforward.   This   line   defines   the  
query  scope  and  directs  SQL  to  run  the  command  against  the  MyDatabase  object  we  created  earlier.    
 
The  line  starting  with  the  CREATE  clause  is  where  we  are  actually  going  to  tell  SQL  to  create  the  new  
table,  which  is  named  orders.  Each  table  column  has  its  own  set  of  guidelines  or  schema,  and  the  lines  
of   code   above   contained   in   parenthesis   ()   are   telling   SQL   how   to   go   about   setting   up   each   column  
schema.  Table  columns  are  presented  in  list  format,  and  each  schema  is  separated  with  a  comma  (,).  
 
INSERT  
INSERT  command  will  insert  a  new  data  row  into  SQL  table,  orders.    

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 INSERT   INTO   orders   (customer,day_of_order,product,   quantity)  
VALUES('KCC','8/1/08','Pen',4);  
 
SELECT  
SELECT  queries  are  the  most  commonly  used  SQL  commands,  SELECT  query  will  return  records  from  
the  orders  table  that  was  created  previously.  
 
SQL  Select  Query  Template:    
SELECT  table_column1,  table_column2,  table_column3  FROM  my_table;  
  e.g.  SELECT  *  FROM  orders;  {*  refers  to  all.}  
 
Select  queries  require  two  essential  parts.  The  first  part  is  the  "WHAT",  which  determines  what  we  
want   SQL   to   go   and   fetch.   The   second   part   of   any   SELECT   command   is   the   "FROM   WHERE".   It  
identifies  where  to  fetch  the  data  from,  which  may  be  from  a  SQL  table,  a  SQL  view,  or  some  other  
SQL  data  object.  
e.g.  SELECT  customer,  day_of_order,  product,  quantity  FROM  orders;  
 
WHERE  CONDITION  
The  WHERE  clause  sets  a  conditional  statement,  and  it  can  be  used  with  any  type  of  SQL  query.  As  the  
select  query  executes,  SQL  processes  one  row  at  a  time.  Each  time  the  conditional  statement  is  met  
(returns  true),  a  row  is  returned  as  a  result.  SQL  WHERE  is  essentially,  a  filtering  mechanism  for  SQL  
queries  and  is  a  tremendous  asset  to  any  aspiring  SQL  developer.  
e.g.  SELECT  *  FROM  orders  WHERE  customer  =  ‘KCC’  
 
UPDATE  
SQL  UPDATE  is  the  command  used  to  update  existing  table  rows  with  new  data  values.  UPDATE  is  a  
very   powerful   command   in   the   SQL   world.   It   has   the   ability   to   update   every   single   row   in   a   database  
with   the   execution   of   only   a   single   query.   Due   to   UPDATE's   supreme   authority,   it   is   best   to   always  
include   a   WHERE   clause   when   working   with   UPDATE   query   statements.   That   way,   there   won’t   be  
any  chances  that  accidentally  update  more  rows.  
Syntax:  UPDATE  table_name  SET  values  …  WHERE  condition;  
UPDATE  orders  SET  quantity  =  '18',  Product  =  External  Disk'  WHERE  id  =  '1'  
 
   

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DELETE  
In   the   SQL   world,   databases,   rows,   and   columns   all   have   one   thing   in   common:   once   a   DELETE  
statement  has  been  executed  successfully  against  them,  the  data  they  once  contained  is  lost  forever!  

DELETE  -­‐  Deletes  any  number  of  rows  from  a  data  object.  DELETE  queries  work  much  like  UPDATE  
queries   and   like   UPDATE,   it   is   much   advised   to   always   use   a   WHERE   condition   when   running   any  
delete  query  or  else  you  risk  deleting  too  much  data.  
  DELETE  FROM  orders  WHERE  customer  =  'KCC’;  
 
DROP   -­‐   Removes   table   columns,   tables,   and   all   data   objects   SQL   applications.   SQL   DROP   is   another  
command   that   removes   data   from   the   data   store.   The   DROP   command   must   be   performed   on   SQL  
objects   including   databases,   tables,   table   columns,   and   SQL   views.   Dropping   any   of   these   objects  
removes  them  completely  from  your  SQL  application  and  all  data  contained  in  any  of  the  data  objects  
dropped  are  lost  forever.  
  DROP  TABLE  orders;    
DROP  DATABASE  mydatabase;  
  DROP  COLUMN  column_name  
 
TRUNCATE  -­‐  SQL  TRUNCATE  is  the  fastest  way  to  remove  all  data  from  a  SQL  table,  leaving  nothing  
but  an  empty  shell.  You  might  choose  to  use  this  command  when  all  the  data  inside  of  a  table  needs  to  
be  removed  but  you'd  like  the  table  column  definitions  to  remain  intact.  
TRUNCATE  TABLE  orders;  
[Refer  to  the  subject  ‘Database  Management  System’  for  details  on  SQL.]  
 
8.2  CRUD  
In   computer   programming,  create,   read,   update   and   delete  (CRUD)   are   the   four   basic   functions  
of  persistent   storage.   Sometimes  CRUD  is   expanded   with   the   words  retrieve   instead  
of  read,  modify  instead   of  update  or  destroy  instead   of  delete.   It   is   also   sometimes   used   to  
describe  user   interface  conventions   that   facilitate   viewing,   searching,   and   changing  information;  
often  using  computer-­‐based  forms  and  reports.    

Another  variation  of  CRUD  is  BREAD,  an  acronym  for  "Browse,  Read,  Edit,  Add,  Delete".  

The   acronym   CRUD   refers   to   all   of   the   major   functions   that   are   implemented   in  relational  
database  applications.  Each  letter  in  the  acronym  can  map  to  a  standard  SQL  statement.  

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 Operation   SQL  

Create   CREATE,  INSERT  

Read  (Retrieve)   SELECT  

Update  (Modify)   UPDATE  

Delete  (Destroy)   DELETE  

 
 
8.3  Database  Connectivity  
MySQL  is  the  most  popular  open-­‐source  database  system.  MySQL  is  a  database.  The  data  in  MySQL  is  
stored  in  database  objects  called  tables.  A  table  is  a  collection  of  related  data  entries  and  it  consists  of  
columns   and   rows.   Databases   are   useful   when   storing   information   categorically.   A   company   may  
have  a  database  with  the  following  tables:  "Employees",  "Products",  "Customers"  and  "Orders".  

The free MySQL database is very often used with PHP.

Create  a  Connection  to  a  MySQL  Database  

Before  you  can  access  data  in  a  database,  you  must  create  a  connection  to  the  database.  In  PHP,  this  is  done  
with  the  mysql_connect()  function.  

Syntax  
mysql_connect(servername,username,password);  

Example  

In  the  following  example  we  store  the  connection  in  a  variable  ($con)  for  later  use  in  the  script.  The  "die"  part  
will  be  executed  if  the  connection  fails:  

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","peter","abc123");  
if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
 
//  some  code  
?>  
 

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Closing  a  Connection  

The  connection  will  be  closed  automatically  when  the  script  ends.  To  close  the  connection  before,  use  the  
mysql_close()  function:  

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","root","root");  
if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
 
//  some  code  
 
mysql_close($con);  
?>  
 
Insert  Data  Into  a  Table  
<html>  
<body>  
 
<form  action="insert.php"  method="post">  
Firstname:  <input  type="text"  name="firstname">  
Lastname:  <input  type="text"  name="lastname">  
Age:  <input  type="text"  name="age">  
<input  type="submit">  
</form>  
 
</body>  
</html>  

When  a  user  clicks  the  submit  button  in  the  HTML  form  in  the  example  above,  the  form  data  is  sent  to  
"insert.php".  The  "insert.php"  file  connects  to  a  database,  and  retrieves  the  values  from  the  form  with  
the  PHP  $_POST  variables.  Then,  the  mysql_query()  function  executes  the  INSERT  INTO  statement,  
and  a  new  record  will  be  added  to  the  "Persons"  table.  

   

  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  8  
Here  is  the  "insert.php"  page:  

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","root","root");  
if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
 
mysql_select_db("my_db",  $con);  
 
$sql="INSERT  INTO  Persons  (FirstName,  LastName,  Age)  
VALUES  
('$_POST[firstname]','$_POST[lastname]','$_POST[age]')";  
 
if  (!mysql_query($sql,$con))  
   {  
   die('Error:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
echo  "1  record  added";  
 
mysql_close($con);  
?>  

Display  the  Result  in  an  HTML  Table  

The following example selects the same data as the example above, but will display the data in an HTML table:

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","root","root");  
if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
 
mysql_select_db("my_db",  $con);  
 
$result  =  mysql_query("SELECT  *  FROM  Persons");  
 
echo  "<table  border='1'>  
<tr>  
<th>Firstname</th>  
<th>Lastname</th>  
</tr>";  
 
while($row  =  mysql_fetch_array($result))  
  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  9  
    {  
   echo  "<tr>";  
   echo  "<td>"  .  $row['FirstName']  .  "</td>";  
   echo  "<td>"  .  $row['LastName']  .  "</td>";  
   echo  "</tr>";  
   }  
echo  "</table>";  
 
mysql_close($con);  
?>  
 

Update  Data  In  a  Database  

Update  SQL  Syntax  

UPDATE  table_name  
SET  values  (e.g.  column1=value,  column2=value2,  ...)  
WHERE  some_column=some_value  

The  following  example  updates  some  data  in  the  "Persons"  table:  

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","root","root");  
if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
 
mysql_select_db("my_db",  $con);  
 
mysql_query("UPDATE  Persons  SET  Age=36  
WHERE  FirstName='Ram'  AND  LastName='Karki'");  
 
mysql_close($con);  
?>  
Delete  Data  

Syntax  
DELETE  FROM  table_name  
WHERE  some_column  =  some_value  

The  following  example  deletes  all  the  records  in  the  "Persons"  table  where  LastName='Karki':  

<?php  
$con  =  mysql_connect("localhost","root","root");  
  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  10  
 if  (!$con)  
   {  
   die('Could  not  connect:  '  .  mysql_error());  
   }  
mysql_select_db("my_db",  $con);  
mysql_query("DELETE  FROM  Persons  WHERE  LastName='Karki'");  
mysql_close($con);  
?>  

Some  commonly  used  MySQL  functions  are:  

• mysql_connect  -­‐  Open  a  connection  to  a  MySQL  Server  
• mysql_select_db  -­‐  Select  a  MySQL  database  
• mysql_close  -­‐  Close  MySQL  connection  
• mysql_query  -­‐  Send  a  MySQL  query  to  the  current  database  
• mysql_affected_rows  -­‐  Get  number  of  affected  rows  in  previous  MySQL  operation  
• mysql_client_encoding  -­‐  Returns  the  name  of  the  character  set  
• mysql_errno  -­‐  Returns  the  numerical  value  of  the  error  message  from  previous  MySQL  
operation  
• mysql_error  -­‐  Returns  the  text  of  the  error  message  from  previous  MySQL  operation  
• mysql_fetch_array  -­‐  Fetch  a  result  row  as  an  associative  array,  a  numeric  array,  or  both  
• mysql_fetch_lengths  -­‐  Get  the  length  of  each  output  in  a  result  
• mysql_fetch_object  -­‐  Fetch  a  result  row  as  an  object  
• mysql_fetch_row  -­‐  Get  a  result  row  as  an  enumerated  array  
• mysql_free_result  -­‐  Free  result  memory  
• mysql_field_len  -­‐  Returns  the  length  of  the  specified  field  
• mysql_field_name  -­‐  Get  the  name  of  the  specified  field  in  a  result  
• mysql_field_table  -­‐  Get  name  of  the  table  the  specified  field  is  in  
• mysql_field_type  -­‐  Get  the  type  of  the  specified  field  in  a  result  
• mysql_info  -­‐  Get  information  about  the  most  recent  query  
• mysql_insert_id  -­‐  Get  the  ID  generated  from  the  previous  INSERT  operation  
• mysql_num_fields  -­‐  Get  number  of  fields  in  result  
• mysql_num_rows  -­‐  Get  number  of  rows  in  result  
• mysql_field_seek  -­‐  Set  result  pointer  to  a  specified  field  offset  
• mysql_fetch_field  -­‐  Get  column  information  from  a  result  and  return  as  an  object  
• mysql_result  -­‐  Get  result  data  
  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  11  
 For  Parameter,  Return  Type  and  Description,  refer:  

 http://php.net/manual/en/ref.mysql.php  

http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_ref_mysql.asp  

PHP  Database  ODBC:  ‘BONUS’  

 

ODBC  is  an  Application  Programming  Interface  (API)  that  allows  you  to  connect  to  a  data  source  (e.g.  
an  MS  Access  database).  

Create  an  ODBC  Connection  

With  an  ODBC  connection,  you  can  connect  to  any  database,  on  any  computer  in  your  network,  as  
long  as  an  ODBC  connection  is  available.  

Here  is  how  to  create  an  ODBC  connection  to  a  MS  Access  Database:    

1. Open  the  Administrative  Tools  icon  in  your  Control  Panel.  

2. Double-­‐click  on  the  Data  Sources  (ODBC)  icon  inside.  
3. Choose  the  System  DSN  tab.  
4. Click  on  Add  in  the  System  DSN  tab.  
5. Select  the  Microsoft  Access  Driver.  Click  Finish.  
6. In  the  next  screen,  click  Select  to  locate  the  database.  
7. Give  the  database  a  Data  Source  Name  (DSN).  
8. Click  OK.  

Note  that  this  configuration  has  to  be  done  on  the  computer  where  your  web  site  is  located.  If  you  are  
running  Internet  Information  Server  (IIS)  on  your  own  computer,  the  instructions  above  will  work,  but  if  
your  web  site  is  located  on  a  remote  server,  you  have  to  have  physical  access  to  that  server,  or  ask  your  
web  host  to  set  up  a  DSN  for  you  to  use.  

Connecting  to  an  ODBC  

The  odbc_connect()  function  is  used  to  connect  to  an  ODBC  data  source.  The  function  takes  four  
parameters:  the  data  source  name,  username,  password,  and  an  optional  cursor  type.  

The  odbc_exec()  function  is  used  to  execute  an  SQL  statement.  

  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  12  

Example  

The  following  example  creates  a  connection  to  a  DSN  called  northwind,  with  no  username  and  no  
password.  It  then  creates  an  SQL  and  executes  it:  

$conn=odbc_connect('northwind','','');  
$sql="SELECT  *  FROM  customers";  
$rs=odbc_exec($conn,$sql);  
 

Retrieving  Records  

The  odbc_fetch_row()  function  is  used  to  return  records  from  the  result-­‐set.  This  function  returns  
true  if  it  is  able  to  return  rows,  otherwise  false.  

The  function  takes  two  parameters:  the  ODBC  result  identifier  and  an  optional  row  number:  

odbc_fetch_row($rs)  
 

Retrieving  Fields  from  a  Record  

The  odbc_result()  function  is  used  to  read  fields  from  a  record.  This  function  takes  two  parameters:  
the  ODBC  result  identifier  and  a  field  number  or  name.  

The  code  line  below  returns  the  value  of  the  first  field  from  the  record:  

$compname=odbc_result($rs,1);  

The  code  line  below  returns  the  value  of  a  field  called  "CompanyName":  

$compname=odbc_result($rs,"CompanyName");  
 

Closing  an  ODBC  Connection  

The  odbc_close()  function  is  used  to  close  an  ODBC  connection.  

odbc_close($conn);  
 

An  ODBC  Example  
  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  13  
The  following  example  shows  how  to  first  create  a  database  connection,  then  a  result-­‐set,  and  then  
display  the  data  in  an  HTML  table.  

<html>  
<body>  
 
<?php  
$conn=odbc_connect('northwind','','');  
if  (!$conn)  
   {exit("Connection  Failed:  "  .  $conn);}  
$sql="SELECT  *  FROM  customers";  
$rs=odbc_exec($conn,$sql);  
if  (!$rs)  
   {exit("Error  in  SQL");}  
echo  "<table><tr>";  
echo  "<th>Companyname</th>";  
echo  "<th>Contactname</th></tr>";  
while  (odbc_fetch_row($rs))  
   {  
   $compname=odbc_result($rs,"CompanyName");  
   $conname=odbc_result($rs,"ContactName");  
   echo  "<tr><td>$compname</td>";  
   echo  "<td>$conname</td></tr>";  
   }  
odbc_close($conn);  
echo  "</table>";  
?>  
</body>  
</html>  
   

  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  14  

 PHP  include  and  require  Statements  

In  PHP,  we  can  insert  the  content  of  one  PHP  file  into  another  PHP  file  before  the  server  executes  it.  The  
include  and  require  statements  are  used  to  insert  useful  codes  written  in  other  files,  in  the  flow  of  execution.  

Include  and  require  are  identical,  except  upon  failure:  

• require  will  produce  a  fatal  error  (E_COMPILE_ERROR)  and  stop  the  script  
• include  will  only  produce  a  warning  (E_WARNING)  and  the  script  will  continue  

So,  if  you  want  the  execution  to  go  on  and  show  users  the  output,  even  if  the  include  file  is  missing,  use  include.  
Otherwise,  in  case  of  FrameWork,  CMS  or  a  complex  PHP  application  coding,  always  use  require  to  include  a  
key  file  to  the  flow  of  execution.  This  will  help  avoid  compromising  your  application's  security  and  integrity,  
just  in-­‐case  one  key  file  is  accidentally  missing.  

Including  files  saves  a  lot  of  work.  This  means  that  you  can  create  a  standard  header,  footer,  or  menu  file  for  all  
your  web  pages.  Then,  when  the  header  needs  to  be  updated,  you  can  only  update  the  header  include  file.  

Syntax  

include  'filename';  
 
or  
 
require  'filename';  
 

PHP  include  and  require  Statement  

Basic  Example  

Assume  that  you  have  a  standard  header  file,  called  "header.php".  To  include  the  header  file  in  a  page,  use  
include/require:  

<html>  
<body>  
<?php  include  'header.php';  ?>  
<h1>Welcome  to  my  home  page!</h1>  
<p>Some  text.</p>  
</body>  
</html>  

Example  2  

Assume  we  have  a  standard  menu  file  that  should  be  used  on  all  pages.  

"menu.php"  

 
File  Content  
echo  '<a  href="/default.php">Home</a>  
<a  href="/tutorials.php">Tutorials</a>  

  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  15  

<a  href="/references.php">References</a>  
<a  href="/examples.php">Examples</a>    
<a  href="/about.php">About  Us</a>    
<a  href="/contact.php">Contact  Us</a>';  

All  pages  in  the  Web  site  should  include  this  menu  file.  Here  is  how  it  can  be  done:  

<html>  
<body>  
 
<div  class="leftmenu">  
<?php  include  'menu.php';  ?>  
</div>  
<h1>Welcome  to  my  home  page.</h1>  
<p>Some  text.</p>  
</body>  
</html>  

Example  3  

Assume  we  have  an  include  file  with  some  variables  defined  ("vars.php"):  

<?php  
$color='red';  
$car='BMW';  
?>  

Then  the  variables  can  be  used  in  the  calling  file:  

<html>  
<body>  
 
<h1>Welcome  to  my  home  page.</h1>  
<?php  include  'vars.php';  
echo  "I  have  a  $color  $car";  //  I  have  a  red  BMW  
?>  
 
</body>  
</html>  
 
 
~  
 
 

  www.sarojpandey.com.np  -­‐  16