Say I have a file called debug.php and I want to use it only when I am testing scripts. How can I disable the file securely? I'm used to change it to a txt file. But I wonder what other users think is the best method.
What is an easy way for disabling a file temporary?
web development
Change it to a text file doesn't disable it. And if it is called from somewhere you'll get errors if you have error_reporting enabled. And it might be visible for clients of you change the extension, because a .txt file will not be parsed using PHP.Since you want the file to only be used when in 'debug mode' I would simply either wrap it in a if-statement or if it is a function add a if-statement with a return void. And set a debug mode constant to be able to switch easily. E.g. define('DEBUGMODE', true); // set this somewhere in your project as soon as possibledebug.php<?phpif (DEBUGMODE === true) {    // do the stuff}or<?phpdebugFunction() {    if (DEBUGMODE === true) return;    // do the stuff}