file_get_contents returns PHP code

Question

When I use file_get_contents() function on a local file, the result contains php code, though I need HTML only.

Content of the file being read:

<?php echo '<p>Hello</p>';?>

And the result of file_get_contents called from a different file located in the same folder:

<?php echo file_get_contents('test.php'); //returns the following: string(31) "Hello'; ?>"

If I read a file from an external server, it returns HTML - as I would expect. So the question is: how do I get HTML output from the local file? Thank you all.

Steve · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-23 11:09:22Z

4

You can use the files url (not filepath), so it is processed by the server eg:

echo file_get_contents('http://website.com/test.php');

However include/require would be better, eg:

include 'test.php';

answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:09

Steve

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:29:45Z

4

file_get_contents() only reads the plain file contents, as it's name suggests.

If you want the PHP interpreted, wou will have to include() it.

The according documentation can be found here: https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.include.php

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:29

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:06

brainbowler

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:32:19Z

0

brainbowler alredy answered is pretty well. Additionally is suggest you to read the following docs:

The PHP functions include and require are much alike and will do what you are trying to achive (they handle the include paths differently tough). There are also include_once and require_once which will also include and execute your script (and output the generated/contained HTML). But only once. They are useful if you haver your include statement in a loop or whatever and dont want it to load 42 times but only once.

Looks like you need to spend some more time on the basics (we all did). ;)

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:32

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:17

user3868349

1 Comment

user3382380 Over a year ago

Thank you for the explanation, I completely agree on the need to spend more time learning the language.

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