Is php's 'include' a function or a statement? -

there plenty of examples of both on web. php manual says "the include() statement [...]", seems contradictory - if it's statement shouldn't not have parenthesis?

both of these work:

include('somefile.php'); include 'somefile.php; 

so should or else care?

quoting manual (my emphasis)

because include() special language construct, parentheses not needed around argument.

these called "special forms", , include such things echo , return statements. note while none of these functions, can still speak of expressions , statements, difference being former have value while latter don't. since include, include_once, require , require_once return value (true if include successful), can used in expressions. reasoning, "include statement" incorrect, though includes used statements.