How to Send HTTP GET Requests in PHP: `file_get_contents` vs. cURL?

Sending HTTP GET Requests in PHP

Sending a GET request is a fundamental aspect of developing PHP applications that interact with external resources. This article explores how to accomplish this task using either the file_get_contents function or the cURL library.

file_get_contents

The file_get_contents function simplifies the retrieval of file contents, including XML data from a URL. It performs a GET request by default and returns the response body as a string.

$xml = file_get_contents("http://www.example.com/file.xml");

cURL

cURL is a powerful library that provides more control over the HTTP request process. It enables setting custom headers, authenticating requests, and handling error conditions.

<?php
$url = "http://www.example.com/file.xml";
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
$xml = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
?>

Which method to use depends on the specific requirements. If basic file retrieval is sufficient, file_get_contents offers simplicity. However, if customization or more complex request handling is needed, cURL is the recommended approach.

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