In PHP development, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using absolute paths versus relative paths when linking to files within a project?

When linking to files within a PHP project, using absolute paths can provide a more reliable way to ensure that the correct file is accessed regardless of the current working directory. However, absolute paths can be cumbersome to maintain, especially if the project structure changes. Relative paths offer more flexibility and ease of maintenance, but they may not always work as expected if the file structure is complex or if the script is included in different directories.

// Using absolute path
include_once '/var/www/html/includes/config.php';

// Using relative path
include_once 'includes/config.php';