$_FILES IN PHP

By using this super global variable, we can get information of uploaded file. It is a 2-dimensional array variable contains 5 elements. Each element is providing information about uploaded files. Every elements 1^st dimension is name of upload control.

If user uploads any file from browser to server, first that file transfers to temporary memory location of server. We need to implement PHP script to move that file from temporary memory location to permanent memory location. Server will provide unique name at the time of storing file in temporary memory location.

Elements of $_FILES

1. $_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘name’] – This element holds the name of uploaded file.

2. $_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘size’] – This element holds the size of upload control in bytes.

3. $_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘type’] – It holds MIME type of uploaded file.

4. $_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘error’] – To get error number, if any occurred at the time of uploading file.

5. $_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘tmp_name’] – To get temporary filename which is provided by server.

MIME – It stands for Multipurpose Internet Mailing Extension. It is a type of extension used to upload a file from browser to server. Every file contains different types of MIME to upload into server from browser. Available MIME types are –

1. jpg – image/jpeg.

2. bmp – image/bmp.

3. exe – application/octet-stream

4. pdf – application/pdf

Note – Without MIME, we won’t be able to upload file, only text controls will be supported.

multipart/form-data – It is a common MIME type, can upload any type of file from browser to server.

is_uploaded_file – Using this function, we can check whether file is uploaded or not from temporary location to permanent location.

move_uploaded_file – To move the uploaded file from temporary location to permanent memory location. Arguments are temporary location filename and permanent location filename with filepath.

Example –

form.html

<form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" action="p1.php">

Browse File<input name="f1" type="file">

<br>

<input type="submit" name="Sub" value="upload">

</form>

p1.php

<?php

$fname=$_FILES['f1']['name'];

if(move_uploaded_file($_FILES['f1']['tmp_name'],"upload/$fname"))

echo "File moved successfully";

else

echo "OOPS something went wrong";

?>

Note – upload is a new folder created in our source project folder.

Configuration settings to work with file upload concept

1. file_uploads – Using this configuration setting we can allow and stop file uploads. Default value is ‘ON’, by changing this value as ‘OFF’ we can stop file uploads.

2. upload_tmp_dir – To change temporary directory location of uploaded file. By default, all files will store in tmp folder.

3. upload_max_filesize – To increase or to decrease maximum filesize to upload the file (By default 128 MB).

Program to upload all files except .exe files

<?php

if ($_FILES['f1']['type']=="application/octet_stream")

{

          echo "exe files are not supported";

}

else

          move_uploaded_file($_FILES['f1']['tmp_name'] ,"upload/".$_FILES['f1']['name']);

?>

$_FILES[‘name of uploaded control’][‘error’] – To get error number, if any error occurred at the time of uploading file. If number is 0, there is no error. If number is 1, then file size is maximum than server configuration setting. If number is 2, then file size is maximum than browser configuration setting. If number is 3, network problem at the time of uploading file. If number is 4, user select submit button without any file selection.