PHP file_get_contents with php intact?

Question

As opposed to using an include, which executes the included php in the file...is it possible to save the contents of a php file to a variable - but with the php still intact and

Answer 1

Write a function in the included PHP script that returns the desired output. Define a constant in the main PHP script. In the included PHP script, check for absence of said constant and echo the return value of the function if this is the case.