I need help creating a variable that sits in a file that the client never visits, that can be read by any page on my site. Note: this variable is involved in the include processes for other PHP files on the pages in question, therefore include that is not an option
you answer is Session
The session support allows you to store data between requests in the $_SESSION superglobal array. When a visitor accesses your site, PHP will check automatically (if session.auto_start is set to 1) or on your request (explicitly through session_start() or implicitly through session_register()) whether a specific session id has been sent with the request. If this is the case, the prior saved environment is recreated.
Attn : Because session data is serialized, resource variables cannot be stored in the session.