title: what is the purpose of require_once dirname(__FILE__) ...?
body: <p>I am using a php library which has this code: <code>require_once dirname(__FILE__) . '/config.php';</code></p>
  
  <p>From what I've read, <code>dirname(__FILE__)</code> points to the current directory.</p>
  
  <p>So wouldn't it be easier to just write <code>require_once 'config.php';</code>?</p>
  
  <p>My only guess here is that including the <code>dirname(__FILE__)</code> ensures that the <code>require_once</code> function uses an absolute rather than relative path.</p>