PHP rename() Function: Syntax, Parameters, Return Value, Examples, and Usage Notes

Introduction

In PHP, the rename() function is used to rename files or directories, providing a simple way to change their names by specifying the source and target names.

Syntax

bool rename ( string $source , string $target )

Parameters

$source : required, the name of the source file or directory.

$target : required, the name of the destination file or directory.

Return Value

Returns TRUE on success and FALSE on failure.

Examples

Below are examples demonstrating how to use rename() to rename files and directories.

Renaming a file:

<?php
$old_name = "old_file.txt";
$new_name = "new_file.txt";

if (rename($old_name, $new_name)) {
    echo "File renamed successfully!";
} else {
    echo "File rename failed!";
}
?>

Renaming a directory:

<?php
$old_name = "old_directory";
$new_name = "new_directory";

if (rename($old_name, $new_name)) {
    echo "Directory renamed successfully!";
} else {
    echo "Directory rename failed!";
}
?>

Notes

The rename() function may be limited by file system permissions; ensure you have sufficient rights to change names. If the source file or directory does not exist, rename() will return FALSE , indicating failure.

Summary

The rename() function is a powerful PHP tool for renaming files or directories by simply specifying the source and target names; the provided example code demonstrates its usage in typical PHP projects.