You can define a constant by using the
define()-function or by using the
const
keyword outside a class definition as
of PHP 5.3.0. While define() allows a constant to be
defined to an arbitrary expression, the const
keyword has
restrictions as outlined in the next paragraph.
Once a constant is defined, it can never be
changed or undefined.
When using the const
keyword,
only scalar data (boolean, integer,
float and string) can be contained
in constants prior to PHP 5.6. From PHP 5.6 onwards, it is possible to
define a constant as a scalar expression, and it is also possible
to define an array constant. It is possible to define
constants as a resource, but it should be avoided, as it can
cause unexpected results.
You can get the value of a constant by simply specifying its name.
Unlike with variables, you should not prepend
a constant with a $
.
You can also use the function constant() to
read a constant's value if you wish to obtain the constant's name
dynamically.
Use get_defined_constants() to get a list of
all defined constants.
Note: Constants and (global) variables are in a different namespace. This implies that for example
TRUE
and $TRUE are generally different.
If you use an undefined constant, PHP assumes that you mean
the name of the constant itself, just as if you called it as
a string (CONSTANT vs "CONSTANT").
This fallback is deprecated as of PHP 7.2.0, and an error of level
E_WARNING
is issued when it happens
(previously, an error of level
E_NOTICE has been issued instead.)
See also the manual entry on why
$foo[bar] is
wrong (unless you first define()
bar
as a constant). This does not apply to (fully) qualified constants,
which will raise a fatal error if undefined. If you simply want to check if a
constant is set, use the defined() function.
These are the differences between constants and variables:
$
)
before them;
const
keywords and as of
PHP 7 array constants can also be defined using define()
You may use arrays in constant scalar expressions
(for example, const FOO = array(1,2,3)[0];
),
but the end result must be a value of allowed type.
Example #1 Defining Constants
<?php
define("CONSTANT", "Hello world.");
echo CONSTANT; // outputs "Hello world."
echo Constant; // outputs "Constant" and issues a notice.
?>
Example #2 Defining Constants using the const
keyword
<?php
// Works as of PHP 5.3.0
const CONSTANT = 'Hello World';
echo CONSTANT;
// Works as of PHP 5.6.0
const ANOTHER_CONST = CONSTANT.'; Goodbye World';
echo ANOTHER_CONST;
const ANIMALS = array('dog', 'cat', 'bird');
echo ANIMALS[1]; // outputs "cat"
// Works as of PHP 7
define('ANIMALS', array(
'dog',
'cat',
'bird'
));
echo ANIMALS[1]; // outputs "cat"
?>
Note:
As opposed to defining constants using define(), constants defined using the
const
keyword must be declared at the top-level scope because they are defined at compile-time. This means that they cannot be declared inside functions, loops,if
statements ortry
/catch
blocks.
Note:
Constants defined using the
const
keyword are always case-sensitive, while constants defined using define() may be case-insensitive.
See also Class Constants.