I could also rename this post “A complex route to easy navigation.” Buckle up, because this is going to be a video entry.
First, let’s examine what a Server Side Include (SSI) actually does for your Web site. PHP is actually a very complex and powerful language that can really extend the function of the site. We are only going to barely scrape the surface of PHP to play with a SSI.
A SSI functions much like an external style sheet – it allows you to take repetitive elements (like your navigation) from individual pages of your Web site, and place them in an external file. So, if you have 300 pages of Web site, and need to change a link in your navigation, you can update it just by changing the link in your include, rather than changing it in 300 pages.
An include is a separate PHP file that contains just a snippet of code that you can “include” or place inside a certain layout element (div) on another PHP page. When you set up your include, remember to strip out all the existing code before pasting in your included elements! What exactly does that mean, you ask? Well, watch the video below to find out.