PHP Tips and Tricks

File Access Optimization

2006-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

When you need to including file, please recheck file content that will be use. If file is not contains PHP codes, use readfile() function to increase performance.
Because files that including with readfile() does not parsing by PHP. It will be different with construction language include() and require(), and files will be evaluated before.

Consequence from using readfile() is increase attack risk. This risk will be happen when accessing file from URL.

Solution for the attack risk is by using File Handling.

Using echo

2006-06-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Echo allowed gives more than one string as parameter. Using some parameters are going to more faster than blending some variables into a parameter.

$a = ‘Hello’;
$b = ‘Word’;
echo ‘Say ‘ .$a. ‘ to ‘ .$b’;
//more faster
echo ‘Say ‘ , $a, ‘ to ‘, $b’;

Checking string size

2006-06-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

We usually using strlen() function to check the string size. The fast way to checking string size is using isset().

if (strlen($str) <>
echo ‘String must be at least 5 chars’;
}

if (!isset($str{5})) {
echo ‘String must be at least 5 chars’;
}

isset() needs more little time than strlen() because isset() is construction language.

Avoid using Large String Concatenation

2006-06-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

When do concatenation string, avoid uniting with large size string. It can obstructing code execution that really can display more faster.

//large string concatenation
$title = ‘title’;
$body = ‘…a very large block…’;
echo “Subject: $title\n\n$body”;

//avoid large string concatenation
$title = ‘title’;
$body = ‘…a very large block…’;
echo “Subject: $title\n\n”;
echo $body;

Boolean data type

2006-06-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

PHP is allowing to write Boolean data type with uppercase or lowercase. But, writing with lowercase is more faster than uppercase. When found a constant, PHP do lookup hash constant name.

if ($var = TRUE) {
...
}

//this is more faster
if ($var = true) {
...
}

When using a Boolean value, 1 and 0 are more faster than true and false.

Avoid space in your code

2006-06-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

In this tip and trick, I’m going to explain how to make code optimization on your application. The main purpose of this code optimization is to get more faster code execution. The elementary key is by writing code effectively and efficiently. Because PHP codes going to execute every time they are requested.

Avoid space in your code

Avoid using many spaces ( ) is a good thing. Every space is 1 byte and every tab (\t) is 1 byte. When you’re using four spaces, you’ve been use 4 bytes. It’s more effective if you’re using a tab (\t).

Print Output

2006-06-17T12:13:00.001-07:00

PHP is giving some sting functions to printing output into browser and we are often using print() and echo() function. Both of those functions are not real function but a language construction. print() and echo() function have same goal, but there are some essential different that must to pay attention.

Print() function behavior like the other function in common and having return value integer 1. Thus, print() can used as part of expression which more complex. Meanwhile, echo() is able to accept more than one parameters all at once, and does not having return value.

print() ‘string 1’;
echo ‘string 1’;
// using some parameters
echo ‘string 1’, “string 2”, ‘…’;

echo() function string will execution more faster than print(). This differentiate caused by will return status (integer) which expose what process has done or not.

On the other side, echo() just displaying output only and do anything. At implementation, return value status from using function string almost never needed.

Why you must do it

2006-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

I create this blog to every body who want learn about web programming PHP. But I don't tell what is PHP and the basic. In this blog, I assume that you had been familiar with PHP.

I just wanna share about tips and tricks in PHP programming. Why? Only one reason to answer. Make a light and more faster programming.

So, let's enjoy it. I hope this blog give you more beneficial at your web programming using PHP.