title: PHP require properly includes script, but it's contents are seemingly not being read
body: <p>I am trying to require some configuration files that, for security reasons, are outside of any directory accessible through the web. The location of the file is /var/www/config/admin.php.</p>
  
  <pre><code>require '/var/www/config/admin.php';
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Even though the file is required and PHP does not return any error (it does when I change the dir of the require for testing purposes), PHP seemingly ignores the contents of the require. For instance, if I put</p>
  
  <pre><code>die("foobar");
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>the script does not exit. The script also does not give a syntax error if I put garbage in the require.</p>
  
  <p>The require is in global scope, outside of any function, at the top of the file. I am calling that file through another require in another script inside the web server. Something like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>''user'' -&gt; login.php &gt; require 'database.php' &gt; require '/var/www/config/admin.php'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The require inside of login.php is properly read and parsed.</p>
  
  <p>Why is PHP not reading or parsing the contents of the (last) require?</p>