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PHP Enhancing a Simple PHP Application Cleaning URLs with Subfolders Using Absolute Server Paths

Posted by Zaberca David
Zaberca David
5,361 Points

Confusions on a simple thing

In the video, the teachers explains that we must use $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] to access a file absolutely. Why can't we just use a relative-root "/" for the same purpose. What's the difference?

3 Answers

Jeremy Germenis
Jeremy Germenis
29,854 Points
Jeremy Germenis
Jeremy Germenis
29,854 Points

If you move a file into another folder you would have to modify the path which would mess up the file paths on any previous file using that path. As you seem to know this is not the only solution, just the one that fit the situation best.

Jeremy Germenis
Jeremy Germenis
29,854 Points
Jeremy Germenis
Jeremy Germenis
29,854 Points

This is most useful if you are working on a project locally (testing server) and then move it to a hosting service. You will not have to change file paths. It also makes moving file around into different directories easier.

Zaberca David
Zaberca David
5,361 Points
Zaberca David
Zaberca David
5,361 Points

What if I use a constant like BASE_PATH and everything I target look like this: "/" . BASE_PATH . "imgs/logo.png" I could just change BASE_PATH into whatever subfolder(s) path I have my website in.