How to delete a client side file using PHP?

Question

I have a PHP app and I need to delete a client-side file. How can I achieve that?

I'm new to PHP. Hope someone can help me.

A browser being able to delete a client-side file at the control of a website, no matter what language the website uses behind the scenes, is definitely a security problem and browser bug. In short: you can't. And if you figure out some way, report it to the browser makers so they can fix it. — Adam Vandenberg
– Adam Vandenberg, Commented Oct 25, 2010 at 3:51
Have you really thought this through? Imagine if any website could simply delete files on your hard disk... Holy Security Nightmare, Batman! — deceze
– deceze ♦, Commented Oct 25, 2010 at 3:52
Just curious, what was your requirement to do such a "heinous" act? — zengr
– zengr, Commented Oct 25, 2010 at 5:05
It's a requirement from customer. I may need to discuss with him. It seems more people are looking at this post. Do you happen to be able to help me with another question? stackoverflow.com/questions/4011727/… — Rachel
– Rachel, Commented Oct 25, 2010 at 6:09

deceze · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-25 05:03:16Z

9

You can't, browsers won't allow it, full stop.

_{You could if you wrote a browser/ActiveX/Java plugin that has that kind of access and got the user to install it, but please don't.}

answered Oct 25, 2010 at 3:51

deceze♦

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3 Comments

+1, but I think that smaller paragraph should actually be bolder :)

@alex No, it actually shouldn't be there at all. You can't delete client-side files, full stop. :o)

Well, I meant the please don't part :)

Ben · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-25 03:51:43Z

2

You can't do this for obvious security reasons. PHP is server side only.

answered Oct 25, 2010 at 3:51

Ben

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