fgetcsv() function to get array of data from CSV file in PHP

fgetcsv(f_pointer,int $length,string $delimiter, string $encloser,string $escape);

Parameter	DESCRIPTION
f_pointer	Required : a successful file pointer fopen()
$length	Optional : Must be greater than the maximum line length
$delimiter	Optional : One char only
$encloser	Optional : Field encloser char
$escape	Optional : escape parmeter sets the escape char

Returns a row of data or a record as an array.
CSV (comma separated values ) is a common data storage format, we can get data from a CSV file by using fgetcsv() function in PHP. This function reads the line from the file pointer we provide ( by fopen ) and parse for CSV data. So data can be collected as elements of the array.

Example of fgetcsv()

<?php
$f_pointer=fopen("student.csv","r"); // file pointer

while(! feof($f_pointer)){
$ar=fgetcsv($f_pointer);
echo print_r($ar); // print the array 
echo "<br>";
}
?>

We used open the csv file and keep the pointer

$f_pointer=fopen("student.csv","r"); // file pointer

We will use our student table csv data. ( Download a copy of student.csv file at end of this tutorial )
We used one loop to get all the rows of the file till the end of the file is reached. Inside the loop we will use fgetcsv() to collect the array and then print the output.

The output is here.

Array ( [0] => 1 [1] => John Deo [2] => Four [3] => 75 [4] => female )
Array ( [0] => 2 [1] => Max Ruin [2] => Three [3] => 85 [4] => male )
Array ( [0] => 3 [1] => Arnold [2] => Three [3] => 55 [4] => male )
Array ( [0] => 4 [1] => Krish Star [2] => Four [3] => 60 [4] => female )
Array ( [0] => 5 [1] => John Mike [2] => Four [3] => 60 [4] => female )
Array ( [0] => 6 [1] => Alex John [2] => Four [3] => 55 [4] => male )

You can read how the CSV data is prepared from the student table here.

Generating a SQL file to insert records into database

Now we can separate data from the above code and using the data we will prepare series of SQL insert commands to store or add all these records to student table. Each loop will have one insert command. Here is the code.

<?php
$f_pointer=fopen("student.csv","r"); // file pointer

while(! feof($f_pointer)){
$ar=fgetcsv($f_pointer);
$sql="INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('$ar[0]','$ar[1]','$ar[2]','$ar[3]','$ar[4]')";
echo $sql;
echo "<br>";
}
?>

Part of the output is here

INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('1','John Deo','Four','75','female')

INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('2','Max Ruin','Three','85','male')

INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('3','Arnold','Three','55','male')

INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('4','Krish Star','Four','60','female')

Removing First line as column headers

In a csv file we may like not to use first line as data as they will have column headers.

<?php
$f_pointer=fopen("student.csv","r"); // file pointer
$first_line="T";

while(! feof($f_pointer)){
$ar=fgetcsv($f_pointer);
if($first_line<>'T'){
$sql="INSERT INTO student(id,name,class,mark,sex)values('$ar[0]','$ar[1]','$ar[2]','$ar[3]','$ar[4]')";
echo $sql;
echo "<br>";
}
$first_line='F';
}
?>

If you want the sql file to be downloaded then follow the instruction at the end of CSV file creation.

fputcsv(): to write data to a csv file

student.csv
String Functions fputcsv(): to write data to a csv file

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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fgetcsv(): Getting data from CSV file

Example of fgetcsv()

Generating a SQL file to insert records into database

Removing First line as column headers

Subhendu Mohapatra