[PHP] Best way to get content from a remote server?

[RastaLulz]

Hey guys,

I was wondering what the best way to get content from a remote server was. I want to be able to get content from my site, which returns a result of 1-6 based on the data requested. I need it to be able to time out within two seconds.

Here's an example:

<?php
// Create the stream context
$context = stream_context_create(array(
    'http' => array(
        'timeout' => 2      // Timeout in seconds
    )
));

// Fetch the URL's contents
$contents = file_get_contents('http://example.com/get_data.php?ip='.$_SERVER['REMOTE_SERVER'], 0, $context);

// Check for empties
if (!empty($contents))
{
    if($contents == '1') {
      echo 'You have successfully voted.';
    }else{
      echo 'You have not voted yet, please click here.';
    }
}
else
{
    // A terrible, terrible disaster occurs
}

Although, I'm sure cURL is more efficient, but I'm not entirely sure.

[MentaL]

[holthelper]

use cURL and pass it through DOMDocument

[Jangan]

Um, I never really played with steam context but yours looks a bit incomplete!

I am pretty sure you NEED a method/content/header to complete the function!

$context = stream_context_create(array( 
      'http' => array( 
      'method'  => 'POST', 
      'header'  => Whatever...., 
      'content' => whatever..., 
      'timeout' => 2, 
    ), 
  )); 

and how are you exactly calling it?

[Tony]

A big note that I hope will help some one. Something that is not mentioned in the documentation, is that when php is compiled --with-curlwrappers,

So, instead of:

<?php 
$opts = array( 
  'http'=>array( 
    'method'=>"GET", 
    'header'=>"Accept-language: en\r\n" . 
              "Cookie: foo=bar\r\n" 
  ) 
); 

$context = stream_context_create($opts); 
?>

You would setup the header this way:

<?php 
$opts = array( 
  'http'=>array( 
    'method'=>"GET", 
    'header'=>array("Accept-language: en", 
                           "Cookie: foo=bar", 
                           "Custom-Header: value") 
  ) 
); 

$context = stream_context_create($opts); 
?>

This will work.