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  <refentry id="function.file-get-contents">
   <refnamediv>
    <refname>file_get_contents</refname> 
    <refpurpose>Reads entire file into a string</refpurpose>
   </refnamediv>
   <refsect1>
    <title>Description</title>
     <methodsynopsis>
      <type>string</type><methodname>file_get_contents</methodname>
      <methodparam><type>string</type><parameter>filename</parameter></methodparam>
      <methodparam choice="opt"><type>bool</type><parameter>use_include_path</parameter></methodparam>
      <methodparam choice="opt"><type>resource</type><parameter>context</parameter></methodparam>
      <methodparam choice="opt"><type>int</type><parameter>offset</parameter></methodparam>
     </methodsynopsis>
    <para> 
     Identical to <function>file</function>, except that
     <function>file_get_contents</function> returns the file in a string,
     starting at the specified <parameter>offset</parameter>.
     On failure, <function>file_get_contents</function> will return &false;.
    </para>
    <para>
     <function>file_get_contents</function> is the preferred way to read the
     contents of a file into a string.  It will use memory mapping techniques if
     supported by your OS to enhance performance.
    </para>
    <note>
     <simpara>
      The <parameter>offset</parameter> parameter was added in PHP 5.1.0.
     </simpara>
    </note>
    <note>
     <para>
      If you're opening a URI with special characters, such as spaces, you
      need to encode the URI with <function>urlencode</function>.
     </para>
    </note>
    &note.bin-safe;
    &tip.fopen-wrapper;
    &note.context-support;
    &warn.ssl-non-standard;
    <simpara>
     See also <function>fgets</function>, <function>file</function>, 
     <function>fread</function>, <function>include</function>, 
     <function>readfile</function> &listendand;
     <function>file_put_contents</function>
    </simpara>
   </refsect1>
  </refentry>

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