How to delete a file using PHP ?

Last Updated : 11 Feb, 2021

To delete a file by using PHP is very easy. Deleting a file means completely erase a file from a directory so that the file is no longer exist. PHP has an unlink() function that allows to delete a file. The PHP unlink() function takes two parameters $filename and $context.

Syntax:

unlink( $filename, $context );

Below programs illustrate the above approach:

Program 1: This program uses unlink() function to remove file from directory.
Suppose there is a file named as “gfg.txt”

<?php
// PHP program to delete a file named gfg.txt 
// using unlike() function 
   
$file_pointer = "gfg.txt"; 
   
// Use unlink() function to delete a file 
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: This program uses unlink() function to delete a file from folder after using some operation.

<?php
// PHP program to delete a file named gfg.txt 
// using unlike() function 
  
$file_pointer = fopen('gfg.txt', 'w+'); 
    
// writing on a file named gfg.txt 
fwrite($file_pointer, 'A computer science portal for geeks!'); 
fclose($file_pointer);   
  
// Use unlink() function to delete a file 
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

Note: If the file does not exist then it will display an error.

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