PHP Manual . ... The include() statement includes and evaluates the specified file. ... Basic include() example . ... Won't work; file.txt wasn't handled by www.example.com as PHP include 'http://www.example.com/file.txt?foo=1&bar=2'; // Won't work; looks for a file named 'file.php?foo=1&bar=2' on the // local filesystem. include 'file.php?foo=1&bar=2'; // Works. include 'http://www.example.com/file.php?foo=1&bar=2'; $foo = 1; $bar = 2; include 'file.txt'; // Works. include 'file.php'; // Works. ...