APC_DEFINE_CONSTANTS(3) 						 1						   APC_DEFINE_CONSTANTS(3)

apc_define_constants - Defines a set of constants for retrieval and mass-definition

SYNOPSIS

       bool apc_define_constants (string  $key, array  $constants, [bool  $case_sensitive = true])

DESCRIPTION

       define(3) is notoriously slow. Since the main benefit of APC is to increase the performance of scripts/applications, this mechanism is pro-
       vided to streamline the process of mass constant definition. However, this function does not perform as well as anticipated.

	For a better-performing solution, try the hidef extension from PECL.

       Note

	       To remove a set of stored constants (without clearing the entire cache), an empty array may be passed as the $constants	parameter,
	      effectively clearing the stored value(s).

PARAMETERS

	      o $key
		-  The	$key  serves  as  the  name  of  the  constant	set  being  stored.  This $key is used to retrieve the stored constants in
		apc_load_constants(3).

	      o $constants
		- An associative array of constant_name => value pairs. The constant_name must follow the normal  constant  naming  rules.   value
		must evaluate to a scalar value.

	      o $case_sensitive
		- The default behaviour for constants is to be declared case-sensitive; i.e.  CONSTANT and Constant represent different values. If
		this parameter evaluates to FALSE the constants will be declared as case-insensitive symbols.

RETURN VALUES

	Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

EXAMPLES

       Example #1

	      apc_define_constants(3) example

	      <?php
	      $constants = array(
		  'ONE'   => 1,
		  'TWO'   => 2,
		  'THREE' => 3,
	      );
	      apc_define_constants('numbers', $constants);
	      echo ONE, TWO, THREE;
	      ?>

	      The above example will output:

	      123

SEE ALSO

       apc_load_constants(3), define(3), constant(3),  Or the PHP constants reference.

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