How to do I use API in input field?

[JohnnyDoomo]

I am trying to use this url shortener that works like this

 

http://lil2u.com/?module=ShortURL&file=Add&mode=API&url=http://www.websitename.com/blah/

 

However, when I add that in my input field, it displays the exact api line, and my url, instead of processing it, and showing short url that it is suppose to generate.

 

I'm sure this is a really noobie quesiton, but I've searching for the answer and either it's so base level knowledge, there isn't anything, or I'm searching for the wrong terms.

 

I just want it so that an input field is shown on the page, and in it is the short url for that page. I already have the means of generating my current url, but I don't know how to get the api to process it, and only show the shortened url in the input field.

 

Can anybody help me with how I go about doing this.

 

Thanks for any help.

[The Letter E]

$shorturl = file_get_contents('http://lil2u.com/?module=ShortURL&file=Add&mode=API&url=http://www.websitename.com/blah/');
print $shorturl;