How can PHP developers ensure protection against direct access to template files in a web application?

PHP developers can ensure protection against direct access to template files in a web application by placing the templates outside the web root directory and using PHP to include the templates within the application. This way, users cannot directly access the template files through the browser, enhancing security. 

```php
<?php
// Include this PHP file at the beginning of each template file
if (!defined('INCLUDED')) {
    header('HTTP/1.0 403 Forbidden');
    die('Direct access to this file is not allowed');
}
?>
```

In each template file, include the above PHP code snippet at the beginning. This code checks if a constant 'INCLUDED' is defined and, if not, returns a 403 Forbidden error message, preventing direct access to the template file.

Keywords

PHP web application protection direct access template files

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