Constants
PHP Manual

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. While define() allows a constant to be defined to an arbitrary expression, the const keyword has restrictions as outlined in the next paragraph. Once a constant is defined, it can never be changed or undefined.

When using the const keyword, 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 possible to define a constant as a scalar expression, and 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). This does not apply to (fully) qualified constants, which will raise a fatal error if undefined. If you simply want to check if a constant is set, use the defined() function.

These are the differences between constants and variables:

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;

const 
ANIMALS = array('dog''cat''bird');
echo 
ANIMALS[1]; // outputs "cat"

// Works as of PHP 7
define('ANIMALS', array(
    
'dog',
    
'cat',
    
'bird'
));
echo 
ANIMALS[1]; // outputs "cat"
?>

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.

See also Class Constants.


Constants
PHP Manual