PHP | fnmatch( ) Function

The fnmatch() function in PHP used to match a filename or string against a specified pattern. The pattern and the filename to be checked are sent as parameters to the fnmatch() function and it returns True if a match is found and False on failure. fnmatch() function is now available for Windows platforms on the PHP 5.3.0 version. 

Syntax:

fnmatch(pattern, string, flags)

Parameters Used: The fnmatch() function in PHP accepts three parameter.

1. pattern : It is a mandatory parameter which specifies the pattern to search for.
2. string : It is a mandatory parameter which specifies the string or file to be checked.
3. flags : It is an optional  parameter which is used to specify flags or a combination of flags. The flags can be a combination of the following flags:
   • FNM_PATHNAME : It is used to specify slash in string only matches slash in the given pattern.
   • FNM_NOESCAPE : It is used to disable backslash escaping.
   • FNM_CASEFOLD : It is used for a caseless match.
   • FNM_PERIOD : It is used to specify a leading period in string must be exactly matched by period in the given pattern.

Return Value: It returns True if a match is found and a False on failure. 

Errors And Exceptions: 

1. The buffer must be cleared if the fnmatch() function is used multiple times.
2. The fnmatch() function returns Boolean False but many times it happens that it returns a non-Boolean value which evaluates to False.

Below programs illustrate the fnmatch() function. 

Program 1 Suppose there is a file named "gfg.txt" 

Output: 

gfg

Program 2 

Yes

Program 3 

Yes

Program 4 

back slash (\) in the sentence

Reference: https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.fnmatch.php