# constant

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.4, PHP 5)

constant — Returns the value of a constant

### Description

mixed constant ( string `$name` )

Return the value of the constant indicated by `name` .

constant() is useful if you need to retrieve the value of a constant, but do not know its name. I.e. it is stored in a variable or returned by a function.

This function works also with class constants.

### Parameters

`name`

  The constant name.

### Return Values

Returns the value of the constant, or `NULL` if the constant is not defined.

### Examples

Example#1 constant() example

`<?php
define("MAXSIZE", 100);
echo MAXSIZE;
echo constant("MAXSIZE"); // same thing as the previous line
?>`

### See Also

- define()
- defined()
- The section on Constants