| What is an Include File? | | | | you can accomplish the same thing in your html |
| If you are familiar with basic HTML you know that | | | | coding? |
| whatever content you put in the HTML coding will be | | | | There are a variety of reasons for this, but this one |
| displayed through an open browser. The content is | | | | tops my list as the most beneficial. |
| placed inside HTML tags on the same page you want | | | | For the sake of simplicity, lets assume you have a |
| to display. | | | | 100 page website and each one of those pages |
| An Include File contains content that is LOCATED | | | | displays the same page header. Lets also assume you |
| SOMEWHERE ELSE instead of right there inside html | | | | just had a beautiful new page header designed and |
| tags of the page. If you understand how CSS style | | | | you want it to replace your old one. |
| sheets work, it's the same basic concept of an | | | | If you were use the traditional methods of updating |
| external style sheet. | | | | your pages, you would be required to make changes |
| The contents of an Include file will also be displayed | | | | to the HTML code on 100 pages. That's a lot of |
| through an open browser just as if the content were | | | | work. Even minor changes to that many pages takes |
| right there in the HTML code. That "somewhere else" | | | | time to accomplish. |
| is usually at a different location somewhere on your | | | | By using an Include, you make the changes to the |
| server. | | | | Include File, upload it to your server and it |
| Using specific php type language, the HTML code tells | | | | automatically updates those 100 pages for you. |
| your browser to go to "anotherplace.html", grab the | | | | The content inside an Include can be anything you |
| content and display part or all of it in your browser. | | | | can put on a webpage ie.. text, graphics, audio etc. |
| Why Use an Include File? | | | | The format can be any format you use on your web |
| Why would you want to use an Include File when | | | | page, ie.. .txt, .html, .asp, .php etc. |