--- title: "$GLOBALS" manual: "TYPO3 Explained" version: "11.5" permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:globals-variables@11.5" source: "Configuration/GlobalVariables.rst" rendered: "2026-10-21T15:30:00+00:00" --- > [!WARNING] > **Attention** > > TYPO3 v11 has reached end-of-life as of October 31th 2024 and > is no longer being maintained. Use the version switcher on the top > left of this page to select documentation for a supported version of TYPO3. > > Need more time before upgrading? > You can purchase Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) for TYPO3 v11 here: > [TYPO3 ELTS](https://typo3.com/services/extended-support-elts). # $GLOBALS {#globals-variables} - **TYPO3_CONF_VARS** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/Configuration/DefaultConfiguration.php` - *Frontend:* yes TYPO3 configuration array. Please refer to the chapter [TYPO3_CONF_VARS](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:typo3confvars@11.5) where each option is described in detail. Most values in this array can be accessed through the tool **Admin Tools > Settings > Configure Installation-Wide Options**. - **TCA** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Core\Bootstrap::loadExtensionTables()` - *Frontend:* Yes, partly See [TCA Reference](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-tca/11.5/en-us/Index.html#start) - **T3_SERVICES** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Core\SystemEnvironmentBuilder::initializeGlobalVariables()` - *Frontend:* Yes Global registration of [services](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:services-introduction@11.5). - **TBE_MODULES** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/ext_tables.php` - *Frontend:* (occasionally) The backend main/sub-module structure. See section elsewhere plus source code of class `\TYPO3\CMS\Backend\Module\ModuleLoader` which also includes some examples. - **TBE_MODULES_EXT** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* \[In `ext_tables.php` files of extensions\] - *Frontend:* (occasionally) Used to store information about modules from extensions that should be included in "function menus" of real modules. See the Extension API for details. This variable *may* be set in a script prior to the bootstrap process so it is optional. - **TBE_STYLES** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/ext_tables.php` - *Frontend:* (occasionally) Contains information related to BE skinning. - **TSFE** - *Type:* TypoScriptFrontendController - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/ext_tables.php` - *Frontend:* yes Contains an instantiation of `\TYPO3\CMS\Frontend\Controller\TypoScriptFrontendController`. > [!WARNING] > **Attention** > > Directly access `$GLOBALS['TSFE']` only as a last resort. It is > strongly discouraged if not absolutely necessary. Provides some public properties and methods which can be used by extensions. The public properties can also be used in TypoScript via [TSFE](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-typoscript/11.5/en-us/Functions/Data.html#data-type-gettext-tsfe). More information is available in [TSFE](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:tsfe@11.5). - **TYPO3_USER_SETTINGS** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/setup/ext_tables.php` Defines the form in the **User Settings**. - **PAGES_TYPES** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/ext_tables.php` - *Frontend:* (occasionally) $GLOBALS\['PAGES_TYPES'\] defines the various types of pages (`doktype`) the system can handle and what restrictions may apply to them. Here you can define which tables are allowed on a certain page types (`doktype`). The default configuration applies if the page type is not defined otherwise. - **BE_USER** - *Type:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Authentication\BackendUserAuthentication` - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Core\Bootstrap::initializeBackendUser()` - *Frontend:* (depends) Backend user object. See [Backend user object](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:be-user@11.5). - **EXEC_TIME** - *Type:* int - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Core\SystemEnvironmentBuilder::initializeGlobalTimeTrackingVariables()` - *Frontend:* yes Is set to `time()` so that the rest of the script has a common value for the script execution time. > [!NOTE] > Should not be used anymore, rather use the > [DateTime Aspect](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:context-api-aspects-datetime@11.5). - **SIM_EXEC_TIME** - *Type:* int - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Core\SystemEnvironmentBuilder::initializeGlobalTimeTrackingVariables()` - *Frontend:* yes Is set to `$GLOBALS['EXEC_TIME']` but can be altered later in the script if we want to simulate another execution-time when selecting from e.g. a database (used in the frontend for preview of future and past dates) > [!NOTE] > Should not be used anymore, rather use the > [DateTime Aspect](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:context-api-aspects-datetime@11.5). - **LANG** - *Type:* `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Localization\LanguageService` - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* is initialized via `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Localization\LanguageServiceFactory` - *Frontend:* no > [!WARNING] > **Attention** > > It is discouraged to use this variable directly. The > `LanguageServiceFactory` should be used instead to retrieve the > `LanguageService`. The `LanguageService` can be used to fetch translations. More information about retrieving the `LanguageService` is available in [Localization in PHP](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:extension-localization-php@11.5). ## Exploring global variables {#globals-exploring} Many of the global variables described above can be inspected using the module **System > Configuration**. > [!WARNING] > This module is always viewed in the BE context. Variables defined > only in the FE context will not be visible there. > [!NOTE] > This module is purely a browser. It does not let you change > values. > > It also lets you browse a number of other global arrays as well as values > defined in other syntaxes including YAML. ![](../Images/AutomaticScreenshots/BackendModules/GlobalValuesConfiguration.png)