What are the key considerations when deciding between storing configuration settings in a PHP file versus a MySQL database for a PHP application?

When deciding between storing configuration settings in a PHP file versus a MySQL database for a PHP application, key considerations include the level of security needed for the settings, the ease of updating and maintaining the settings, the scalability of the application, and the need for real-time changes to the settings. Storing configuration settings in a PHP file can provide faster access to the settings but may be less secure, while storing them in a MySQL database can offer better security and easier management but may introduce additional complexity.

// Storing configuration settings in a PHP file

$config = [
    'db_host' => 'localhost',
    'db_user' => 'username',
    'db_pass' => 'password',
    'db_name' => 'database_name'
];

// Accessing configuration settings
echo $config['db_host'];
echo $config['db_user'];
echo $config['db_pass'];
echo $config['db_name'];