html - How to store a root domain as a variable in php and use it to move between folders

I am in the process of creating a website using php and due to hosting my website locally and then uploading it onto a server I want an easy way of changing the root domain without manually changing it in every single place I have a domain, so I proposed storing the root domain as a variable. n.b. I have simplified down the names of the files.

I created a a variable called $rootDomain

<?php
$rootDomain = "http://localhost/testWebsite/";
?>
Copy code

Next I have a new page in a sub folder called: page.php. I get to this page via a link in a header that is used for all the pages.

<a href=<?php  $rootDomain?>"pageone/page.php"><li><?php echo$firstLink?></li>
Copy code

Using the generic header I have on all pages I want to get back to the main index page. The link used looks like this:

<a href=<?php  $rootDomain?>"index.php"><?php echo$websiteName?></a>
Copy code

The expected link location should send me to:

"http://localhost/testWebsite/index.php"
Copy code

But the link it is displaying is:

"http://localhost/testWebsite/pageone/index.php"
Copy code

Which is an error.

When I have tested it using the link directly without the variable :

<a href="http://localhost/index.php"><?php echo$websiteName?></a>
Copy code

There is no error and I get the expected outcome.

I am struggling to work out what I am doing wrong and any help would be much appreciated.

Didn't find the answer?

Our community is visited by hundreds of web development professionals every day. Ask your question and get a quick answer for free.