Answers.Body: <p>What format is the source data in?  If it's already in a multidimensional PHP array, then it might be as simple as having a <code>data.php</code> file in your plugin and doing a <code>require_once</code> in your plugin's <code>init()</code> method and you're good to go.</p>
  
  <p>Even if it's in a different format, loading it from <code>init()</code> and parsing it into the multidimensional array is a good option.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-06T00:21:28.290Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-07-06T00:21:28.290Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brad Bell
Body: <p>I have static data that my plugin requires as an array (multidimensional with 100s of items), it doesn't need to change and it seems overkill to store in a database and not appropriate as just arrays in my code.</p>
  
  <p>Options I have considered:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Json files - load them in</li>
  <li>In the config file</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Which is best and is there a more appropriate way to store access?</p>
  
Tags: <plugin-development>
Title: What's the best place to store and load static data for plugins?
ThreadText: # What's the best place to store and load static data for plugins?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-05)
  
  I have static data that my plugin requires as an array (multidimensional with 100s of items), it doesn't need to change and it seems overkill to store in a database and not appropriate as just arrays in my code.
  
  Options I have considered:
  
  * Json files - load them in
  * In the config file
  
  Which is best and is there a more appropriate way to store access?
  
  **Tags:** plugin-development
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-06. Score: 4
  
  What format is the source data in? If it's already in a multidimensional PHP array, then it might be as simple as having a `data.php` file in your plugin and doing a `require_once` in your plugin's `init()` method and you're good to go.
  
  Even if it's in a different format, loading it from `init()` and parsing it into the multidimensional array is a good option.
  
  
  ---
  
  