Internet Programming II - 2017EC
Chapter 7
File Handling
7.1 Introduction to File Handling
File handling allows web applications to interact with files on the server. This is essential for tasks like
storing user data, logging events, and managing configuration settings. Without file handling, web
applications would rely solely on databases, which might not be practical for all types of data storage.
Key reasons for file handling include:
Data persistence, where files store information like user preferences between sessions
Logging, which helps web applications track user actions, errors, and events for debugging and
monitoring
Configuration management, where settings are saved in files for flexibility and easy customization
Content management, enabling websites with dynamic content, such as blogs or news sites, to store
and serve content efficiently
Examples of file handling in web development include access logs, where web servers like Apache or Nginx
store logs of each request made to the server. Error logs, where applications log errors to a file for easier
debugging. User uploads, where platforms like social media sites handle file uploads (images, documents)
and store them on the server. Configuration files, where web apps often use JSON, XML, or PHP files to
control behavior without changing the code. Data backups, where periodic backups of database exports
or critical data files ensure recovery from data loss.
7.1. Reading & Writing Files
File Handling Overview
PHP provides various functions to handle files efficiently. Some key functions include the following:
Opening a File
The fopen() function is used to open files. It requires two main arguments: the file name and the mode.
Example:
$file = fopen("visits.log", "a+");
Common modes include:
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Mode Description
r Read-only. Starts at the beginning of the file.
r+ Read and write. Starts at the beginning of the file.
w Write-only. Erases the content or creates a new file.
w+ Read and write. Erases the content or creates a new file.
a Write-only. Appends data to the end of the file. Creates a new file if it doesn’t exist.
a+ Read and append. Starts at the end of the file. Creates a new file if it doesn’t exist.
x Write-only. Creates a new file. Returns FALSE if the file already exists.
x+ Read and write. Creates a new file. Returns FALSE if the file already exists.
c Write-only. Opens the file but does not create it if it doesn’t exist. Doesn’t overwrite content.
c+ Read and write. Similar to c, but allows reading too.
Reading from Files
fread() reads a specific number of bytes from a file:
$file = fopen("example.txt", "r");
$content = fread($file, filesize("example.txt"));
fclose($file);
file_get_contents() reads the entire file into a string (simpler for small files):
$content = file_get_contents("example.txt");
echo $content;
fgets() Reads the file line-by-line (until newline \n), useful for processing large files without loading
the entire content
$handle = fopen("file.txt", "r");
while (($line = fgets($handle)) !== false) {
echo $line . "<br>";
}
fclose($handle);
fgetc() reads one character at a time, useful for fine-grained parsing or tokenization.
$handle = fopen("file.txt", "r");
while (($char = fgetc($handle)) !== false) {
echo $char;
}
fclose($handle);
feof() checks if the end of file has been reached, used in loops to avoid errors when reading past file
end.
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$handle = fopen("file.txt", "r");
while (!feof($handle)) {
echo fgets($handle);
}
fclose($handle);
Writing to Files
fwrite() writes data to an open file:
$file = fopen("log.txt", "a");
fwrite($file, "User visited on " . date("Y-m-d H:i:s") . "\n");
fclose($file);
Handling Errors
It’s essential to handle errors, like when a file doesn’t exist or lacks permissions.
Example:
$file = @fopen("nonexistent.txt", "r") or die("Error: File not found!");
The @ suppresses errors, while die() outputs a custom error message.
File Permissions and Security Considerations
Permissions: Ensure proper permissions (e.g., chmod 644) to prevent unauthorized access.
Security: Avoid reading/writing sensitive files like /etc/passwd. Always validate file paths.
Simple Log System (build a basic log system to track user visits)
// Open or create the log file
$logFile = fopen("visits.log", "a") or die("Unable to open file!");
// Record the visit with timestamp and IP address
$logEntry = "Visit from IP: " . $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] . " on " . date("Y-
m-d H:i:s") . "\n";
// Write the entry to the log
fwrite($logFile, $logEntry);
// Close the file
fclose($logFile);
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echo "Visit logged successfully!";
This script opens the visits.log file in append mode, ensuring that new entries are added without
overwriting existing data. It captures the user's IP address along with the current timestamp, creating a
record of the visit. The log entry is then written to the file, and the script ensures the file is properly closed
to prevent data loss or corruption.
7.2. File and Directory Control
PHP provides functions to work with files and folders, allowing developers to automate tasks such as
uploading files, organizing data, and managing user content.
Deleting Files
unlink(filename) deletes a specified file from the file system.
$profilePic = "uploads/user123.jpg";
if (file_exists($profilePic)) {
unlink($profilePic);
echo "Profile picture deleted.";
} else {
echo "File not found.";
}
Creating Directories
mkdir(path, mode, recursive) creates a new directory.
$username = "user123";
$userFolder = "uploads/$username";
if (!is_dir($userFolder)) {
mkdir($userFolder, 0755, true);
echo "User folder created.";
} else {
echo "Folder already exists.";
}
0755 is the permission setting, and true allows nested folders if needed.
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Removing Directories
rmdir(directory) removes an empty directory
$categoryFolder = "uploads/category-abc";
if (is_dir($categoryFolder) && count(scandir($categoryFolder)) == 2) {
// Only '.' and '..' exist
rmdir($categoryFolder);
echo "Empty category folder removed.";
} else {
echo "Folder is not empty or doesn't exist.";
}
Understanding Paths
Working with correct file paths is key to file operations.
a. Server Root Directory:
$_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']gives the root directory of the server where the current script is running.
$uploadPath = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . "/uploads/file.txt";
file_put_contents($uploadPath, "Hello world!");
echo "File saved to: $uploadPath";
b. Current Script Directory
__DIR__ returns the directory of the currently executing script.
include(__DIR__ . "/config.php");
Prevents errors when scripts are executed from different locations.
7.3. Image Processing
The GD Library is a powerful tool in PHP for creating and manipulating images. It supports various image
formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. With GD, you can create images from scratch, modify existing
ones, and perform tasks like resizing, cropping, and adding watermarks.
Resizing Images
function resizeImage($file, $width, $height) {
list($origWidth, $origHeight) = getimagesize($file);
$imageResized = imagecreatetruecolor($width, $height);
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$image = imagecreatefromjpeg($file);
imagecopyresampled($imageResized, $image, 0, 0, 0, 0, $width, $height,
$origWidth, $origHeight);
imagejpeg($imageResized, 'resized_image.jpg');
}
Cropping Images
function cropImage($file, $x, $y, $cropWidth, $cropHeight) {
$image = imagecreatefromjpeg($file);
$imageCropped = imagecreatetruecolor($cropWidth, $cropHeight);
imagecopyresampled($imageCropped, $image, 0, 0, $x, $y, $cropWidth,
$cropHeight, $cropWidth, $cropHeight);
imagejpeg($imageCropped, 'cropped_image.jpg');
}
Adding Watermarks
function addWatermark($file, $text) {
$image = imagecreatefromjpeg($file);
$color = imagecolorallocate($image, 255, 255, 255);
$font = __DIR__ . '/arial.ttf';
imagettftext($image, 20, 0, 10, 30, $color, $font, $text);
imagejpeg($image, 'watermarked_image.jpg');
}
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