Using Curl except file_get_contents

I have a script. It's using file_get_contents.
I heard that curl is more efficient from file_get_contents
what is the equivalent code for curl?
$data = file_get_contents("http://www.xxx.com");

I want this with curl .
How can i do it ?

 

<?php

$url = 'http://www.xxx.com';

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_REFERER, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERAGENT, $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']);

$data = curl_exec($ch);

?>

PHP:

The good thing about cURL is that you can set all possible options manually, incase the server you're requesting this from requires it.

http://us2.php.net/curl

 

Thank you
I wanted this to use in my pagearank script. It uses file_get_contents
I will try this now

 

Be careful if you plan to make a public script. cURL isn't enabled by default and not all hosts support it. Do something like this:

if (function_exists('curl_init'))
{
  // Use cURL
}
else
{
   // Use file_get_contents
}

PHP:

 

thank you for more information .
Now I tested it's working %100 .
My script was making 100 job in 60 seconds . now it make it in 14 seconds.
I advise it to everyone