Author ID: VA035840
This document outlines best practices for organizing PHP code in a maintainable and scalable way. Structured development improves readability, reusability, and long-term stability of your application.
/config
– Configuration files (database, paths, constants)/lib
– Reusable libraries and helper functions/modules
– Feature-specific business logic/public
– Entry points (index.php, assets)/templates
– HTML layouts and partialsAvoid mixing HTML and PHP logic. Keep database access, data processing, and presentation in distinct layers. This makes debugging and updating easier.
// config/db.php
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
define('DB_USER', 'root');
define('DB_PASS', '');
define('DB_NAME', 'app_db');
// public/index.php
require_once '../config/db.php';
require_once '../lib/db_connect.php';
require_once '../modules/home.php';
Common utilities such as form validation, string formatting, and error logging should be abstracted into separate library files for reuse across modules.
Structured PHP development is not about frameworks, but about discipline. By consistently separating logic, managing files properly, and using modular practices, even a plain PHP project can remain clean, safe, and scalable over time.
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