What are the differences between using file_get_contents() and include() for accessing and integrating external PHP files?

When accessing and integrating external PHP files, using file_get_contents() allows you to retrieve the contents of a file as a string, while include() actually executes the code within the external file. If you only need to read the contents of a file, file_get_contents() is the appropriate choice. However, if you want to execute the PHP code within the external file and have access to its variables and functions, include() is the better option. 

// Using file_get_contents() to read the contents of an external PHP file
$contents = file_get_contents('external_file.php');
echo $contents;

// Using include() to execute the code within an external PHP file
include('external_file.php');

Keywords

file_get_contents include PHP files external integration

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