diff --git a/language/variables.sgml b/language/variables.sgml
index f35adc7f2d..277e219342 100644
--- a/language/variables.sgml
+++ b/language/variables.sgml
@@ -509,7 +509,18 @@ $bar = &test(); // Invalid.
The scope of a variable is the context within which it is defined.
- For the most part all PHP variables only have a single scope.
+ For the most part all PHP variables only have a single scope. This
+ single scope spans included and required files as well. For example:
+
+
+
+$a = 1;
+include "b.inc";
+
+
+
+ Here the $a variable will be available within the included b.inc
+ script.
However, within user-defined functions a local function scope is
introduced. Any variable used inside a function is by default
limited to the local function scope. For example: