PHP | unlink() Function
Last Updated :
23 Nov, 2020
The unlink() function is an inbuilt function in PHP which is used to delete files. It is similar to UNIX unlink() function. The $filename is sent as a parameter that needs to be deleted and the function returns True on success and false on failure.
Syntax:
unlink( $filename, $context )
Parameters: This function accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below:
- $filename: It is a mandatory parameter which specifies the filename of the file which has to be deleted.
- $context: It is an optional parameter which specifies the context of the file handle which can be used to modify the nature of the stream.
Return Value: It returns True on success and False on failure.
Errors And Exception:
- The unlink() function generates an E_WARNING level error on failure.
- The web server user must have write permissions to the directory for using the unlink() function.
- The unlink() function returns Boolean False but many times it happens that it returns a non-Boolean value which evaluates to False.
Below programs illustrate the unlink() function in PHP:
Suppose there is a file named as “gfg.txt”
Program 1:
PHP
<?php
$file_pointer = "gfg.txt" ;
if (!unlink( $file_pointer )) {
echo ( "$file_pointer cannot be deleted due to an error" );
}
else {
echo ( "$file_pointer has been deleted" );
}
?>
|
Output:
gfg.txt has been deleted
Program 2:
PHP
<?php
$file_pointer = fopen ( 'gfg.txt' , 'w+' );
fwrite( $file_pointer , 'A computer science portal for geeks!' );
fclose( $file_pointer );
if (!unlink( $file_pointer )) {
echo ( "$file_pointer cannot be deleted due to an error" );
}
else {
echo ( "$file_pointer has been deleted" );
}
?>
|
Output:
Warning: unlink() expects parameter 1 to be a valid path, resource
given in C:\xampp\htdocs\server.php on line 12
Resource id #3 cannot be deleted due to an error
Reference: http://php.net/manual/en/function.unlink.php
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