PHP: filetype - Manual

Description

string filetype ( string filename )

Returns the type of the file. Possible values are fifo, char, dir, block, link, file, and unknown.

Returns FALSE if an error occurs. filetype() will also produce an E_NOTICE message if the stat call fails or if the file type is unknown.

Note: The results of this function are cached. See clearstatcache() for more details.

Tip: As of PHP 5.0.0 this function can also be used with some URL wrappers. Refer to Appendix L for a listing of which wrappers support stat() family of functionality.

Example 1. filetype() example

<?php echo filetype('/etc/passwd'); // file echo filetype('/etc/'); // dir ?>

User Contributed Notes
filetype

Guillaume Cocatre-Zilgien
01-Nov-2004 07:42


"socket" should be added to the list of possible values that can be returned by filetype(). I have tested it with versions 4.3.0 and 5.0.2 of PHP.

ruach at chpc dot utah dot edu
10-Mar-2004 07:11


There are 7 values that can be returned. Here is a list of them and what each one means



block: block special device



char: character special device



dir: directory



fifo: FIFO (named pipe)



file: regular file



link: symbolic link



unknown: unknown file type