---
title: "What are the differences between require and include, include_once?"  
description: "What are the differences between require and include, include_once?"  
author: "Anonymous User"  
published: 2011-06-13  
updated: 2020-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1046/what-are-the-differences-between-require-and-include-include_once  
category: "php"  
tags: ["php"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What are the differences between require and include, include_once?

**1) require_once() and include_once()** are both the functions to include and evaluate the specified file only once. If the specified file is included previous to the present call occurrence, it will not be done again.\
\
But require() and include() will do it as many times they are asked to do.

**2) The include_once()** statement includes and evaluates the specified file during the execution of the script. This is a behavior similar to the include() statement, with the only difference being that if the code from a file has already been included, it will not be included again. The major difference between include() and require() is that in failure include() produces a warning message whereas require() produces a fatal errors.

3) All three are used to an include file into the current page.\
If the file is not present, require(), calls a fatal error, while in include() does not.\
The include_once() statement includes and evaluates the specified file during the execution of the script. This is a behavior similar to the include() statement, with the only difference being that if the code from a file has already been included, it will not be included again. It des not call a fatal error if file not exists. require_once() does the same as include_once(), but it calls a fatal error if file not exists. \

## Answers

### Answer by Anonymous User

**1) require_once() and include_once()** are both the functions to include and evaluate the specified file only once. If the specified file is included previous to the present call occurrence, it will not be done again.\
\
But require() and include() will do it as many times they are asked to do.

**2) The include_once()** statement includes and evaluates the specified file during the execution of the script. This is a behavior similar to the include() statement, with the only difference being that if the code from a file has already been included, it will not be included again. The major difference between include() and require() is that in failure include() produces a warning message whereas require() produces a fatal errors.

3) All three are used to an include file into the current page.\
If the file is not present, require(), calls a fatal error, while in include() does not.\
The include_once() statement includes and evaluates the specified file during the execution of the script. This is a behavior similar to the include() statement, with the only difference being that if the code from a file has already been included, it will not be included again. It des not call a fatal error if file not exists. require_once() does the same as include_once(), but it calls a fatal error if file not exists. \


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