PHP - fopen() Function | 1SMARTchicken

September 20, 2024

Categories: PHP Functions, PHP Reference, Reference

Quick Reference

The PHP fopen() function opens a file or URL.

<?php
$file = fopen('test.txt', 'r');

while(! feof($file)) {
    $line = fgets($file);
    echo $line. '<br>';
}

fclose($file);
?>

Output

// opens file and read lines until EOF is reached

Syntax

fopen(filename, mode, include_path, context)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
filename	Specifies the file or URL to open (required)
mode	Specifies the type of access you require to the file/stream: "r" - Read only; starts at the beginning of the file "r+" - Read/Write; starts at the beginning of the file "w" - Write only; opens and truncates the file or creates a new file if it doesn't exist; place file pointer at the beginning of the file "w+" - Read/Write; opens and truncates the file or creates a new file if it doesn't exist; place file pointer at the beginning of the file "a" - Write only; opens and writes to the end of the file or creates a new file if it doesn't exist "a+" - Read/Write; preserves file content by writing to the end of the file "x" - Write only; creates a new file; returns FALSE and an error if file already exists "x+" - Read/Write; creates a new file; returns FALSE and an error if file already exists "c" - Write only; opens the file or creates a new file if it doesn't exist; place file pointer at the beginning of the file "c+" - Read/Write; opens the file; or creates a new file if it doesn't exist; place file pointer at the beginning of the file "e" - Only available in PHP compiled on POSIX.1-2008 conform systems
include_path	Set this parameter to '1' if you want to search for the file in the include_path (in php.ini) as well
context	Specifies the context of the file handle. Context is a set of options that can modify the behavior of a stream

PHP Notes:

When using PHP, single or double quotation marks are acceptable and work identically to one another; choose whichever you prefer, and stay consistent
Arrays count starting from zero NOT one; so item 1 is position [0], item 2 is position [1], and item 3 is position [2] … and so on

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