Using variables in glob function path

Question

As mentioned in PHP Manual

pattern

The pattern. No tilde expansion or parameter substitution is done.

I tried to find files with path name in a variable and it didn’t work.

The loader file (main function in the program) needs to include few files which reside in the same directory of the present class file that the loader file is working on . So , I tried below work around in the loader file.

$cwd = getcwd();
$reflector = new ReflectionClass($class_name); //$class_name  come from $_GET
$fname = $reflector->getFileName();
$fdir = dirname($fname);
chdir ($fdir);
$include_file_name = glob("*.inc");
chdir ($cwd);

It works but just wants to know is it a good work around or is there anything else I can do.

Mike · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-24 05:45:35Z

2

If you have all of your classes inside one directory, you could just hard code it relative to the current script and that would eliminate the need for a reflection class. For example, if the current script is in /var/www/foo and the classes are in /var/www/classes, just do:

$include_file_name = glob(__DIR__ . '/../classes' . '*.inc');

However if the classes can come from multiple directories, using a reflector like that seems pretty appropriate to me, however you could also add $fdir into the glob() string instead of doing chdir() like this, but of course that's just micro-optimization:

$include_file_name = glob($fdir ."/*.inc");

answered Feb 24, 2014 at 5:45

Mike

24.6k14 gold badges84 silver badges93 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

5 Comments

user2959149 Over a year ago

Thanks Mike. All the class files are in different directories and for a reason. I tried using variable in glob function but it did not work and I guess glob function doesnt do any variable value substitution

Mike Over a year ago

@user2959149 did you include them in single quotes? A string in PHP is a string. It doesn't matter how it was created. If you give it the right string, it will work.

user2959149 Over a year ago

Thanks Mike. I tried the $fdir in glob and it does work. I was missing the forward slash.

Mike Over a year ago

When in doubt, echo, print_r() and var_dump() are your friends. Figure out what is actually contained in a variable by using them at strategic locations and your error should usually become apparent.

user2959149 Over a year ago

All I can say...still learning how to properly use/debug PHP...Thanks I 'll keep in mind

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using variables in glob function path

1 Answer 1

5 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

5 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related