Get external PHP File as string in PHP

Question

How would I get an external PHP file as string without executing it. I've tried

$content = file_get_contents($url);

But it returns the results of the php file not the script itself. I've read that using a relative path would do what I want, but that's not viable as I'm trying to access a script from a different site. I do have FTP access, but I am hoping there's a simpler method.

You will not get the PHP-contents of a different site using file_get_contents, because the file will be rendered by the external server before serving it to you. — Sebass van Boxel
– Sebass van Boxel, Commented Oct 26, 2015 at 21:43
There would be major security issues if getting the PHP contents of an externally-hosted file without some kind of authentication were possible... — rnevius
– rnevius, Commented Oct 26, 2015 at 21:44
You would have to get the content via FTP or some other non-HTTP protocol that would not execute the requested URL via web-server (i.e. execute the script). That being said. I would be concerned over this sort of architecture. Why are you planning to do this? — Mike Brant
– Mike Brant, Commented Oct 26, 2015 at 21:44
this is prevented for good reason! Imagine if this worked, it would be a security nightmare. — user3593520
– user3593520, Commented Oct 26, 2015 at 21:45
Why do you need to get an external PHP file. This may be an X-Y problem — Dan
– Dan, Commented Oct 26, 2015 at 21:47

miken32 · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-26 21:56:09Z

1

If you have FTP access, I'm not sure how much simpler you can get.

$url = "ftp://user:[email protected]/file/path";
$content = file_get_contents($url);

answered Oct 26, 2015 at 21:56

miken32

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