Ftp_rawlist()

Understanding the PHP Function ftp_rawlist()

The ftp_rawlist() function is a built-in PHP function that returns a detailed listing of a directory on an FTP server. In this article, we'll discuss the function in detail and provide you with a comprehensive guide to using it in your PHP projects.

What is ftp_rawlist()?

The ftp_rawlist() function is a PHP built-in function that returns a detailed listing of a directory on an FTP server. The function takes two parameters:

1. ftp_stream: The connection identifier returned by the ftp_connect() function.
2. directory: The directory to list.

The function returns an array of strings containing the detailed directory listing on success. Otherwise, it returns false.

Syntax of ftp_rawlist()

The syntax of the ftp_rawlist() function is as follows:

array ftp_rawlist ( resource $ftp_stream , string $directory [, bool $recursive = false [, string $pattern = "" ]] )

The ftp_rawlist() function takes two required parameters, ftp_stream and directory. The ftp_stream parameter is the connection identifier returned by the ftp_connect() function, and the directory parameter is the directory to list. The function also has two optional parameters, recursive and pattern, which allow you to specify whether to list subdirectories and filter the results, respectively.

Usage of ftp_rawlist()

To use the ftp_rawlist() function, you first need to establish a connection to the FTP server using the ftp_connect() function. Here's an example:

<?php

// Set up an FTP connection
$conn = ftp_connect('ftp.example.com');

// Login with your FTP credentials
ftp_login($conn, 'username', 'password');

// Get a detailed listing of the directory
$listing = ftp_rawlist($conn, '/public_html');

// Output the listing to the console
foreach ($listing as $item) {
    echo $item . "\n";
}

// Close the FTP connection
ftp_close($conn);

In this example, we establish a connection to the FTP server using the ftp_connect() function. Then we log in using our FTP credentials using the ftp_login() function. We get a detailed listing of the directory using the ftp_rawlist() function and output the listing to the console. Finally, we close the FTP connection using the ftp_close() function.

Error handling in ftp_rawlist()

It's important to handle errors properly when using the ftp_rawlist() function. If the function returns false, it means that the operation was unsuccessful. Here's an example of how to handle errors:

<?php

$listing = ftp_rawlist($conn, '/public_html');

if (!$listing) {
    echo "Failed to get directory listing from FTP server.\n";
}

ftp_close($conn);

By handling errors appropriately and checking the return value of the function, you can ensure the success of your FTP operations using the ftp_rawlist() function.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ftp_rawlist() function is a useful tool for getting a detailed listing of a directory on an FTP server. With proper usage and error handling, this function can be a valuable asset in your PHP projects.