You can either use require_once to include another file, or if you want something more fancy, you could use templates (smarty for example).

As a beginner, I suggest you use the function "require" like this:

Yes, require has a different syntax, to avoid future problems, always surround the hole statement with parenthesis.

What future problems are you talking about ? Could you explain this a bit better ?

This works fine:


Whereas this produces a fatal error:
the error:Failed opening required '1' ... huh

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From the PHP manual for include() (same rules apply for require):

Because include() is a special language construct, parentheses are not needed around its argument. Take care when comparing return value.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.include.php

I haven't seen anyone using require or include inside a brace like this though.
But the point to be noted is, include and require do return a value on successful inclusion. That return value is OK . Strange. I didn't know that I wonder what would be the return value on failure.
Also, include and require are not functions. They are language constructs. Hmm! Not bad to learn few new things @ 2-30 am ? Eh ?

Yes, I was wrong, these are language constructs.

I wrote "&& 1", the "1" could any arbitrary PHP expression...