PHP: Defines a set of constants for retrieval and mass-definition

Description

bool apc_define_constants ( string $key , array $constants [, bool $case_sensitive ] )

define() is notoriously slow. Since the main benefit of APC is to increase the performance of scripts/applications, this mechanism is provided to streamline the process of mass constant definition. However, this function does not perform as well as anticipated.

For a better-performing solution, try the » hidef extension from PECL.

Note: To remove a set of stored constants (without clearing the entire cache), an empty array may be passed as the constants parameter, effectively clearing the stored value(s).

Parameters

key: The key serves as the name of the constant set being stored. This key is used to retrieve the stored constants in apc_load_constants().
constants: An associative array of constant_name => value pairs. The constant_name must follow the normal constant naming rules. value must evaluate to a scalar value.
case_sensitive: The default behaviour for constants is to be declared case-sensitive; i.e. CONSTANT and Constant represent different values. If this parameter evaluates to FALSE the constants will be declared as case-insensitive symbols.

Return Values

Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

Examples

Example #1 apc_define_constants() example


<?php

$constants = array(

    'ONE'   => 1,

    'TWO'   => 2,

    'THREE' => 3,

);

apc_define_constants('numbers', $constants);

echo ONE, TWO, THREE;

?>

The above example will output:

apc_define_constants

Description

Parameters

Return Values

Examples

See Also