PHP glob() Function

PHP Filesystem Functions

Definition and Usage

The glob() function returns the filenames or directories that match the specified pattern.

This function returns an array containing the matched files / directories. Returns false if an error occurs.

Syntax

glob(pattern,flags)
Parameter Description
file Required. Specify the search pattern.
size

Optional. Specify special settings.

  • GLOB_MARK - Add a slash to each returned item
  • GLOB_NOSORT - Return files in the original order they appear in the directory (do not sort)
  • GLOB_NOCHECK - If no files match, return the search pattern used
  • GLOB_NOESCAPE - Backslashes do not escape metacharacters
  • GLOB_BRACE - Expand {a,b,c} to match 'a', 'b', or 'c'
  • GLOB_ONLYDIR - Only return directory items that match the pattern
  • GLOB_ERR - Stop and read error messages (such as unreadable directories), by default, ignore all errors

Note:GLOB_ERR was added in PHP 5.1.

Instance

Example 1

<?php
print_r(glob("*.txt"));
?>

Output similar to:

Array
(
[0] => target.txt
[1] => source.txt
[2] => test.txt
[3] => test2.txt
)

Example 2

<?php
print_r(glob("*.*"));
?>

Output similar to:

Array
(
[0] => contacts.csv
[1] => default.php
[2] => target.txt
[3] => source.txt
[4] => tem1.tmp
[5] => test.htm
[6] => test.ini
[7] => test.php
[8] => test.txt
[9] => test2.txt
)

PHP Filesystem Functions