Deleting all files from a folder using PHP

In PHP, files from a folder can be deleted using various approaches and inbuilt methods such as unlink, DirectoryIterator and DirectoryRecursiveIterator. Some of these approaches are explained below: Approach 1:

• Generate a list of files using glob() method
• Iterate over the list of files.
• Check whether the name of files is valid.
• Delete the file using unlink() method.

Example: Output: Before Running the code: 👁 Image
After Running the code: 👁 Image
Note: Hidden files can be included in the file removal operation by addition of the below code: Approach 2:

• Generate a list of files using glob() method.
• Filter the list using array_filter() or array_merge() methods.
• Map the list to unlink() method using array_map() method.

Example: Approach 3:

• Generate list of files using DirectoryIterator.
• Iterate over the list of files.
• Validate the file while checking if the file directory has a dot or not.
• Using the getPathName method reference, delete the file using unlink() method.

Example: Approach 4:

• Generate list of all directory hierarchies inside the given folder directory using RecursiveDirectoryIterator

  $dir = new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($dir, FilesystemIterator::SKIP_DOTS);
  $dir = new RecursiveIteratorIterator($dir, RecursiveIteratorIterator::CHILD_FIRST);

• FilesystemIterator::SKIP_DOTS is used to ignore dots while generating list of files.
• RecursiveIteratorIterator::CHILD_FIRST is used for choosing files present at root directory.
• Iterate over the file list and remove folders and files according to the specification.

Example: