Include a php file, but return output as a string instead of printing

Question

I want to include a file, but instead of printing output I want to get it as string.

For example, I want include a file:

<?php echo "Hello"; ?> world!

But instead of printing Hello world! while including the file I want to get it as a string.

I want to filter some elements from the file, but not from whole php file, but just from the html output.

Is it possible to do something like this?

Yes, using output buffering; or by modifying your file to return a vaue instead of echoing it — Mark Baker
– Mark Baker, Commented Sep 10, 2016 at 10:00
@Mark Baker, but if I use ob, will it still print the output or no? — user5147563
– user5147563, Commented Sep 10, 2016 at 10:01
Using output buffering will put the echoed value in the output buffer, not send it to display.... it's up to you what you subsequently do with the contents of that output buffer.... and that can include moving it to a variable rather than displaying it... that's what output buffering is all about — Mark Baker
– Mark Baker, Commented Sep 10, 2016 at 10:02
Ok, I though that it will print even when buffered. I will try. Thanks — user5147563
– user5147563, Commented Sep 10, 2016 at 10:04

Your Common Sense · Accepted Answer · 2024-04-08 03:58:31Z

7

You can use php buffers like this:

<?php
ob_start();
include('other.php');
$script = ob_get_clean(); // it will hold the output of other.php

You can abstract this into a function:

function inlcude2string($file) {
    ob_start();
    include($file);
    return ob_get_clean(); // it will hold the output of $file
}

$str = inlcude2string('other.php');

edited Apr 8, 2024 at 3:58

Your Common Sense

158k42 gold badges226 silver badges374 bronze badges

answered Sep 10, 2016 at 10:03

jcubic

67.1k58 gold badges252 silver badges466 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Include a php file, but return output as a string instead of printing

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related