Which function do i need to read the page through http?

[GreenLeaf]

I need read the html page through http and extract the links from it. Which function is better to use for this purpose: fopen() + fread(), file_get_contents(), or fsockopen()?
Thanks.

[patrickrock]

if the fopen wrappers are installed I like to use file_get_contents() since it fetches all the html right into a string ready for me to process.

[GreenLeaf]

Thanks, Patrickrock,

I'm sorry for silly question, but how could i know are the fopen wrappers installed or not?
Are there any advantages of using fsockopen() over file_get_contents()?

[patrickrock]

try this and see what happens

echo file_get_contents("http://anywebsite.com");

if it spits out the webpage well the wrappers are enabled. =)

They are probably enabled. just test it and see.

[coopster]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, patrickrock, and good insight. The PHP developers mention that "file_get_contents() [php.net] 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."

GreenLeaf,

As long as allow_url_fopen [php.net] is enabled in php.ini, you can use HTTP and FTP URLs with most of the functions that take a filename as a parameter.

Resource:
Using remote files [php.net]

Should get you going down the right path, anyway ;)

[GreenLeaf]

Thanks a lot, Patrickrock and Coopster!