Posted by NC on 07/20/07 00:27

On Jul 19, 4:14 pm, Martin Larsen <martin+spamfree+lar...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:
>
> When a PHP program links to a library using include
> or require (or their _once variations), is the library
> then linked dynamically or statically?

Neither. include/require is not a linking mechanism; it is a way to
assemble a complete block of source code prior to its interpretation.
Any static linking takes place at the server process start-up (i.e.,
before any include/require can happen); dynamic linking (if any)
occurs during execution (i.e., after the source code has been
interpreted, and, therefore, after any include/require).

> it is quite important to know what kind of linking is in
> effect when including libraries,

Only if the libraries are true libraries (i.e., those compiled into
native executable code). With PHP "libraries", using include/require
does not imply any linking...

Cheers,
NC

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