What are some common methods for handling URL routing and page inclusion in PHP?

When developing a PHP website, handling URL routing and page inclusion is essential for directing users to the correct pages based on the URL they are accessing. One common method is to use a switch statement to map URLs to specific PHP files or functions that will handle the request. Another approach is to use a front controller pattern, where all requests are directed to a single PHP file that then includes the appropriate page based on the URL parameters. 

// Example of URL routing using a switch statement
$url = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];

switch ($url) {
    case '/':
        include 'home.php';
        break;
    case '/about':
        include 'about.php';
        break;
    case '/contact':
        include 'contact.php';
        break;
    default:
        include '404.php';
        break;
}
```

```php
// Example of URL routing using a front controller pattern
$url = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];

$routes = [
    '/' => 'home.php',
    '/about' => 'about.php',
    '/contact' => 'contact.php'
];

if (array_key_exists($url, $routes)) {
    include $routes[$url];
} else {
    include '404.php';
}

Keywords

URL routing page inclusion PHP functions libraries error handling

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