PHP Include Function Slowing Down Loading Time. Suggestions?

[Blackhawk095]

I recently finished a fairly large website project that I've been working on. But I have realized how time consuming it is to update it.

Because of this, I have decided to use the php "include" function so I can update the CSS, navigation, and footer once, and update the whole website. I created a test page to see if it would work correctly. It did, but the page took 3-4 seconds to load on a fast computer. Without using the PHP "include" function, the page usually takes about half a second to load on the same computer.

Is there a way to use the "include" function and still keep the loading time fast?

[Webzarus]

It could be your hosting provider ??? just a thought.

In ASP we have a built in command called Server.execute as well as the the includes support.

I found a long time ago, that building the repeatable parts of the page into functions and just calling the functions where needed was much more efficient than calling a whole bunch of include files ?

[Harmonic]

Webzarus is right. Sounds like a slow server to me. I used includes all the time with no (visible) delays.

[George Dolidze]

Same here. I've never had a problem with includes. It's basically copy & paste.

[Blackhawk095]

Right now, I'm using a free webhost (000webhost). BUT, the website will eventually be transferred to the school's server, which should be a lot faster. If what you guys are saying is true, I guess it will be fine. Thanks, but one quick question.

To improve my PHP skills, I have decided to create a giant CMS on the website. The website has login's, so I'll create admin profiles where they will be able to edit the website content themselves. They would be able to edit: news feeds, photo gallery, and other specific sections of the website.

I plan on doing this by storing all of the content in a database. I can't use the schools databases so I have to use the one on 000webhost. (I'm using a free account)

Will this slow down the loading time in general, or would it depend on the hosting site?

If using a free account will slow it down, would a paying account be the better choice?

[George Dolidze]

I don't think includes should be a problem on 000webhost. They have worked perfectly for me. Maybe try to see if something else is causing the lag?

[Blackhawk095]

I guess I didn't explain clearly. The "PHP: Include" issue is over. I didn't know that the cause would be from a slow server. That issues will be fixed once I move the website over to the school's server.

Now, I'm planning on setting up a CMS (I haven't started creating this yet). I would like to know if storing all of the editable content in a database would slow it down.

I also want to know if it would be better to have a database on a free or paying 000webhost account.(which would be faster?)

[Harmonic]

Well... yes it WILL slow down the site. You now have to query a database to get your information.

But If your web server is good, there will be no visible delay caused by the queries.

The paid would likely be faster. Paid memberships are probably on a better server than 000webhost gives it's free members. I can't guarantee this though.

[mlseim]

If you're old enough for a credit card, or your parents have a credit card,
subscribe to a real webhost and create your own domain name. You can get
a real webhost account for about $40 a year ... that's like $3 a month, or a
burger and fries at McDonald's.

Many lost cost hosts, like cleverdot.com, and others like them.

You get the whole deal ... FTP, PHP, MySQL, lots of storage, you own domain name
such as "blackhawk095.com" ... and you can do whatever you want.

If you're a younger student (minor), having your parents pay with their credit card
is probably the best educational money they'll spend this year. $40 to have their
child learn scripting, programming, databases ... you can even create personal pages
for your family ... even create a WordPress blog with a click of a button (using the
built-in Fantastico, or auto-install features of the webhost).

I don't know why anyone, even young students, constantly deal with the frustration of
"free webhosts". They are not free ... as you discovered.

.

[AlphaMare]

How many includes are you using? Remember that PHP code is processed server side prior to the response being sent back to the client - if there are a lot of them and the server is slow this could be causing the delay.