Syntax

You can define a constant by using the define()-function or by using the const keyword outside a class definition as of PHP 5.3.0. Once a constant is defined, it can never be changed or undefined.

Only scalar data (boolean, integer, float and string) can be contained in constants prior to PHP 5.6. From PHP 5.6 onwards, it is also possible to define an array constant. It is possible to define constants as a resource, but it should be avoided, as it can cause unexpected results.

You can get the value of a constant by simply specifying its name. Unlike with variables, you should not prepend a constant with a $. You can also use the function constant() to read a constant's value if you wish to obtain the constant's name dynamically. Use get_defined_constants() to get a list of all defined constants.

Note: Constants and (global) variables are in a different namespace. This implies that for example TRUE and $TRUE are generally different.

If you use an undefined constant, PHP assumes that you mean the name of the constant itself, just as if you called it as a string (CONSTANT vs "CONSTANT"). An error of level E_NOTICE will be issued when this happens. See also the manual entry on why $foo[bar] is wrong (unless you first define() bar as a constant). If you simply want to check if a constant is set, use the defined() function.

These are the differences between constants and variables:

Constants do not have a dollar sign ($) before them;
Constants may only be defined using the define() function, not by simple assignment;
Constants may be defined and accessed anywhere without regard to variable scoping rules;
Constants may not be redefined or undefined once they have been set; and
Constants may only evaluate to scalar values, or scalar or array values in PHP 5.6 and later. You may use arrays in constant scalar expressions (for example, const FOO = array(1,2,3)[0];), but the end result must be a scalar value.

Example #1 Defining Constants


<?php
define("CONSTANT", "Hello world.");
echo CONSTANT; // outputs "Hello world."
echo Constant; // outputs "Constant" and issues a notice.
?>

Example #2 Defining Constants using the const keyword


<?php
// Works as of PHP 5.3.0
const CONSTANT = 'Hello World';

echo CONSTANT;

// Works as of PHP 5.6.0
const ANOTHER_CONST = CONSTANT.'; Goodbye World';

echo ANOTHER_CONST;
?>

Note:
As opposed to defining constants using define(), constants defined using the const keyword must be declared at the top-level scope because they are defined at compile-time. This means that they cannot be declared inside functions, loops, if statements or try/ catch blocks.