PHP Manual
Prev | Chapter 16. Control Structures | Next

# include_once()

The include_once() statement includes and evaluates the specified file during the execution of the script. This is a behavior similar to the include() statement, with the only difference being that if the code from a file has already been included, it will not be included again. As the name suggests, it will be included just once.

include_once() should be used in cases where the same file might be included and evaluated more than once during a particular execution of a script, and you want to be sure that it is included exactly once to avoid problems with function redefinitions, variable value reassignments, etc.

For more examples on using require_once() and include_once(), look at the PEAR code included in the latest PHP source code distributions.

Return values are the same as with include(). If the file was already included, this function returns `TRUE`

> Note: include_once() was added in PHP 4.0.1pl2

> Note: Be aware, that the behaviour of include_once() and require_once() may not be what you expect on a non case sensitive operating system (such as Windows).

> Example 16-13. include_once() is case insensitive on Windows
> `<?php include_once("a.php"); // this will include a.php include_once("A.php"); // this will include a.php again on Windows! (PHP 4 only) ?>`

> This behaviour changed in PHP 5 - the path is normalized first so that `C:\PROGRA~1\A.php` is realized the same as `C:\Program Files\a.php` and the file is included just once.

Warning
Windows versions of PHP prior to PHP 4.3.0 do not support accessing remote files via this function, even if allow_url_fopen is enabled.

See also include(), require(), require_once(), get_required_files(), get_included_files(), readfile(), and virtual().

Prev | Home | Next
require_once() | Up | Functions