php: When to use the scope resolution symbol (::) after an include / require_once?
<p>All,</p>

<p>I'd like to understand </p>

<p>I'm looking at this code sample from <a href="http://www.w3style.co.uk/a-lightweight-and-flexible-front-controller-for-php-5" rel="nofollow">w3Style's front controller tutorial</a>:</p>

<p>index.php</p>

<pre><code>&lt;?php
define("PAGE_DIR", dirname(__FILE__) . "/pages");
require_once "FrontController.php";
FrontController::createInstance()-&gt;dispatch();
</code></pre>

<p>Why is the <code>::</code> required in this case?</p>

<p>Does it have to do with the flexibility of one day creating a different class in "FrontController.php" which would also have a method of this name?  Or is it to address the case when one would have several includes of different classes, all incorporating some same method name?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>JDelage</p>
