Title: How should I include this PHP file? Last modified: September 1, 2016 --- # How should I include this PHP file? * [WPOso](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wordpress-oso/) * (@wordpress-oso) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/) * I created a file @ wp-content/plugins/echo-values.php * Now I’m trying to figure out how to include that file. Just to test it, I’ve put the following code in the file: * $MyCountry = ‘USA’; echo $MyCountry; * I’ve been told that the plugins folder is the best place to put includes. I also read somewhere that any file placed in the plugins folder would “autoload.” But when I published the file online, I couldn’t find “USA” in the source code. * So I apparently have to manually include the file. But what file should I insert the include in? I learned that wp-content/plugins/index.php is off limits. * Also, I don’t know how to translate this… * require_once(“/wp-content/plugins/echo-values.php”); * to WordPress syntax. There are some examples @ [https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/plugins_url](https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/plugins_url) but they’re very confusing. Can someone show me how to write a line of code including wp-content/plugins/echo-values.php? * Thank you. Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/) * (@t-p) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468338) * If understand you, have you tried creating /mu-plugins/ directory and placing this echo-values.php inside it? * Looks like this: /wp-content/plugins/mu-plugins/echo-values.php * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Must_Use_Plugins](http://codex.wordpress.org/Must_Use_Plugins) * Thread Starter [WPOso](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wordpress-oso/) * (@wordpress-oso) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468340) * Actually, this turned into two problems, one of which I just solved. As you suggested, I created a new folder – mu-plugins – put my file inside it, and it does autoload. * However, I still need to know how to write includes. * The file inside my mu-plugins folder is fine for creating echo values, but if I want to actually display something at the beginning of an article or at the bottom of the page, then I need to be able to insert an include in the proper location. * Also, I’m eventually going to put some database-driven reference tables on some of my pages, so I’ll have to include separate files that feature queries and a lot of styling, etc. * Anyway, what’s the proper way to write an include? * Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/) * (@t-p) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468342) * I don’t follow what you are trying to do. Perhaps someone else can chime in. * [semky](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semky/) * (@semky) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468402) * There are plugins to include fies with a short code. and plugins to execute php in a post. and if your brave custom fields. * Thread Starter [WPOso](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wordpress-oso/) * (@wordpress-oso) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468403) * I found a couple custom fields plugins. Can you list any plugins that help you include PHP files? Thanks. * [Jason King](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jasoncharlesstuartking/) * (@jasoncharlesstuartking) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468421) * You have so many choices; you could: * 1) create a simple shortcode that inserts php. That code could go into functions. php or in a plugin. See [https://codex.wordpress.org/Shortcode_API](https://codex.wordpress.org/Shortcode_API). Gives you want the flexibility to put the code anywhere you like within post content. * Or 2) put that code into one of your theme’s files. If you’re not using a child theme, please do so! Then that code could go within one or more of the template file in the child theme. Not as flexible as using a shortcode, but still a viable option. * Or 3) put that code into a widget. Which makes sense if you’ll mainly want to place it within widgetised areas. [http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-a-custom-wordpress-widget/](http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-a-custom-wordpress-widget/) * Or 4) use a plugin such as [https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-php/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-php/) to insert PHP into any post. * Thread Starter [WPOso](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wordpress-oso/) * (@wordpress-oso) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468424) * Thanks, I’ll check those out. Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘How should I include this PHP file?’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 7 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [WPOso](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wordpress-oso/) * Last activity: [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-should-i-include-this-php-file/#post-7468424) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics