how to delete a file from folder in php

Question

I have a folder 'items' in which there are 3 files item1.txt, item2.txt and item3.txt. I want to delete item2.txt file from folder. I am using the below code but it not deleting a file from folder. Can any body help me in that.

<?php
        $data="item2.txt";
        $dir = "items";
        $dirHandle = opendir($dir);
        while ($file = readdir($dirHandle)) {
            if($file==$data) {
                unlink($file);
            }
        }

        closedir($dirHandle);

?>

unlink( $dir."/".$data);

Nirav Ranpara
– Nirav Ranpara

2012-11-22 07:36:18 +00:00
Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:36 — Nirav Ranpara
– Nirav Ranpara, Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:36
Check is correct path of file in mentioned

softsdev
– softsdev

2012-11-22 07:36:31 +00:00
Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:36 — softsdev
– softsdev, Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:36
@Tahir Yasin Once i get answer I will accept

xing
– xing

2012-11-22 07:44:25 +00:00
Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:44 — xing
– xing, Commented Nov 22, 2012 at 7:44

grg · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-26 10:42:37Z

25

Initially the folder should have 777 permissions

$data = "item2.txt";
$dir = "items";
while ($file = readdir($dirHandle)) {
    if ($file==$data) {
        unlink($dir.'/'.$file);
    }
}

or try

$path = $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'items/item2.txt';
unlink($path);

edited Oct 26, 2020 at 10:42

grg

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answered Nov 22, 2012 at 7:33

Vamsi

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Comments

Tahir Yasin · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-22 07:33:42Z

5

No need of while loop here for just deleting a file, you have to pass path of that file to unlink() function, as shown below.

$file_to_delete = 'items/item2.txt';
unlink($file_to_delete);

Please read details of unlink() function

http://php.net/manual/en/function.unlink.php

answered Nov 22, 2012 at 7:33

Tahir Yasin

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Comments

Sibu · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-22 07:41:01Z

3

There is one bug in your code, you haven't given the correct path

<?php
        $data="item2.txt";    
        $dir = "items";    
        $dirHandle = opendir($dir);    
        while ($file = readdir($dirHandle)) {    
            if($file==$data) {
                unlink($dir."/".$file);//give correct path,
            }
        }    
        closedir($dirHandle);

?>

unlink

edited Nov 22, 2012 at 7:41

answered Nov 22, 2012 at 7:35

Sibu

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1 Comment

Sibu Over a year ago

@xing are you sure your path is correct, because your php page directory should have "items" folder

Cthulhu · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-15 12:32:14Z

3

It's very simple:

$file='a.txt';

    if(unlink($file))
    {
        echo "file named $file has been deleted successfully";
    }
    else
    {
        echo "file is not deleted";
    }

//if file is in other folder then do as follows

unlink("foldername/".$file);

edited Mar 15, 2016 at 12:32

Cthulhu

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answered Mar 15, 2016 at 11:51

prabhu programmer

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Comments

som · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-22 07:37:51Z

2

if($file==$data) {
  unlink( $dir .'/'. $file);
}

answered Nov 22, 2012 at 7:37

som

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Comments

Louis Loudog Trottier · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-22 07:32:58Z

1

try renaming it to the trash or a temp folder that the server have access **UNLESS IT'S sensitive data.

rename($old, $new) or die("Unable to rename $old to $new.");

answered Nov 22, 2012 at 7:32

Louis Loudog Trottier

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1 Comment

Louis Loudog Trottier Over a year ago

$variables are self explainatory

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