PHP basename( ) Function

The basename() function in PHP is an inbuilt function which is used to return the base name of a file if the path of the file is provided as a parameter to the basename() function.

Syntax:

string basename ( $path , $suffix )

Parameters: The basename() function in PHP accepts two parameters which are path and suffix.

1. $path: This parameter is of string type and is mandatory. It specifies the path of the file.
2. $suffix: It is an optional parameter which hides the extension of a file if it ends with a suffix.

Return Value: This function returns the basename of the file whose path has been given as a parameter by the user.

Errors And Exception:

1. The basename() function doesn’t recognise path components such as ‘..’ .
2. The basename() function operates on the input string provided by the user and is unaware of the actual filesystem.
3. Both slashes, forward slash (/) and backslash (\) are used as directory separator character on a windows platform whereas it is just a forward slash (/) in other environments.

Examples:

Input : $path = "user01/home/documents/geeksforgeeks.php",
Output : geeksforgeeks.php

Input :  $path = "user01/home/documents/geeksforgeeks.php",
         $suffix = ".php"
Output : geeksforgeeks

Below programs illustrate the basename() function:

Program 1:

<?php

$path = "user01/home/documents/geeksforgeeks.php";

// basename() function to show
// filename along with extension
echo basename($path);

?>

Output:

geeksforgeeks.php

Program 2:

<?php

$path = "user01/home/documents/geeksforgeeks.php";

// basename() function to show the
// filename while hiding the extension
echo basename($path, ".php");

?>

Output:

geeksforgeeks

Reference:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.basename.php