require/include into variable

Question

I want to require/include a file and retrieve its contents into a variable.

test.php

Answer 1

You can write in the included file:

<?php
    return 'seconds etc.';

And in the file from which you are including:

<?php
    $text = include('file.php'); // just assigns value returned in file

Answer 2

Use shell_exec("php test.php"). It returns the output of the execution.

Answer 3

If your included file returned a variable...

include.php

<?php
return 'abc';

...then you can assign it to a variable like so...

$abc = include 'include.php';

Otherwise, use output buffering.

ob_start();
include 'include.php';
$buffer = ob_get_clean();