--- title: "$GLOBALS" manual: "TYPO3 Explained" version: "12.4" permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:globals-variables@12.4" source: "Configuration/GlobalVariables.rst" rendered: "2026-10-21T15:29:37+00:00" --- > [!WARNING] > **Attention** > > TYPO3 v12 has reached end-of-life as of April 30th 2026 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 v12 here: > [TYPO3 ELTS](https://typo3.com/services/extended-support-elts). # $GLOBALS {#globals-variables} The global variable $GLOBALS['TBE_MODULES'] was removed. Setting it has no effect anymore. Use the ModuleProvider instead. - **TYPO3_CONF_VARS** - *Type:* array - *Path:* $GLOBALS - *Defined:* `typo3/sysext/core/Configuration/DefaultConfiguration.php` - *Frontend:* yes TYPO3 configuration array. Please refer to the chapter [System configuration and the global settings.php](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:typo3confvars@12.4) 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/12.4/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@12.4). - **TBE_STYLES** Migrate to the new configuration setting $GLOBALS['TYPO3_CONF_VARS']['BE']['stylesheets'] which can be set per site or within an extension's ext_localconf.php. For a custom stylesheet of the TYPO3 Admin Panel, it is recommended to use the AdminPanel Module API (available since TYPO3 v9 LTS) where custom CSS and JavaScript files can be registered dynamically.- *Path:* $GLOBALS - *type:* array - *Defined:* [`typo3/sysext/core/ext_tables.php`](../ExtensionArchitecture/FileStructure/ExtTables.md#file-extension-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/12.4/en-us/Functions/Data.html#data-type-gettext-tsfe). More information is available in [TSFE](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:tsfe@12.4). - **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@12.4). - **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@12.4). - **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@12.4). - **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@12.4). ## 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)