title: How do I call and decode a JSON web service from PHP?
body: <p>From within PHP, how can I call an external JSON web service and then decode the returned string?</p>
  
  <p>For example (pseudo-code):</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;?php
  
  $var jsonStr = json_decode("http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA&amp;sensor=false");
  
  ?&gt;
  </code></pre>