scandir function to list all the files and directory present in any given directory

Recommended scandir() pattern

Check that the path is a directory, handle a failed scandir() call, remove the . and .. entries, and escape file names before displaying them in HTML.

<?php
$directory = __DIR__ . '/test_dir';

if (!is_dir($directory)) {
    throw new RuntimeException('Directory not found.');
}

$entries = scandir($directory, SCANDIR_SORT_ASCENDING);
if ($entries === false) {
    throw new RuntimeException('Unable to read directory.');
}

foreach (array_diff($entries, ['.', '..']) as $entry) {
    echo htmlspecialchars($entry, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') . '
';
}
?>

$ar=scandir('test_dir'); // Change this path 
print_r($ar);

$ar=scandir('C:\\dir_name\\abc\\'); // Change this path to directory 
foreach ($ar as $key => $val) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Scandir output: listing of files & sub folders

This function returns an array. Here is the syntax.

Scandir('directory_sting',sort_order,'context');

Directy_sting:

directory name with path as string

Sort_order: (Optional)

The listing order is ascending by default ( alphabetical ). Can by changed by SCANDIR_SORT_DESCENDING and Random by SCANDIR_SORT_NONE

Constants: Use 0 for ascending order and 1 for descending order.

Context:
(Optional)

From the Context parameter listing

As scandir output is an array, we can apply all array function to this output. Listing all files and directory of current folder

$ar=scandir('.'); 
print_r($ar);

Listing all files and directory of up folder

$ar=scandir('..'); 
print_r($ar);

We can develop a small script which will first list file and directory of current directory. All listed directory will have hyperlink to list files and directory present inside that on click. We have used is_dir function to check if the output string is a directory or not.

$var=$_GET['var'];
if(strlen($var)==0){
$var='.';
}
$ar=scandir($var);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($ar)) {
	
if(is_dir($val)){ // True if directory
echo "<a href=scandir.php?var=$val>$val</a><br>";
}else {
echo "$val<br>";
}

}

Travelling to different subdirectory and up directory structure

Above script we will modify to provide option where users can click folders to visit those folders. They can move upward ( towards root ) or can move downward by travelling to different levels deep inside the folder structure. Here is the code to do that.

<?php
@$var=$_GET['var'];
$path = '';
if(strlen($var)==0){
$path='';
}else{
$path=$var;
}
$cwd=getcwd();
$cwd=$cwd.$path;

chdir($cwd);

echo "<br>Current Working Directory : ".getcwd()."<br>";

$ar=scandir($cwd);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($ar)) {
$path2=$path."".$val;
if(is_dir($val)){
echo "<a href=dir-listing.php?var=$path2>$val</a><br>";
}else {
echo "$val<br>";
}
}
?>

Emptying folders by deleting all files

This is one of the way to empty the files in a folder to delete the folder. This script will keep on deleting files as you move on different level of folders.

Be warned that as you are going to delete the files not only of current folder but of all other folders you try to visit.

We kept the delete command commented for safety reasons and after understanding all the consequences you can un comment the line and use it at your own risk.

<?php
@$var=$_GET['var'];
$path = '';
if(strlen($var)==0){
$path='';
}else{
$path=$var;
}
$cwd=getcwd();
$cwd=$cwd.$path;

chdir($cwd);

echo "<br>Current Working Directory : ".getcwd()."<br>";

$ar=scandir($cwd);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($ar)) {
$path2=$path."".$val;
if(is_dir($val)){
echo "<a href=dir-listing.php?var=$path2>$val</a><br>";
}else {
if($val<>'dir-listing.php'){
// Uncommenting below line will delete your files of each folder you list ////
//unlink($val); // This will delete your files !!!!
}
echo "$val<br>";
}
}
?>

Script to list all file extension types with total numbers by using Scandir and array functions

Directory Functions Change current Directory to a new one

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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scandir(): List files and directories

Recommended scandir() pattern

Travelling to different subdirectory and up directory structure

Emptying folders by deleting all files

Subhendu Mohapatra