What is the difference between relative and absolute HTML file paths, and how can this impact file references in PHP?

Relative file paths are specified in relation to the current file's location, while absolute file paths specify the full path from the root directory. When referencing files in PHP, using relative paths can make your code more portable and easier to maintain. To ensure consistent file references in PHP, it is recommended to use relative paths whenever possible.

// Using relative file path
include 'includes/config.php';

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