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

Introduction

In PHP, the rename() function is used to rename files or directories. It provides a simple way to change the name of a file or directory by specifying the source name and the target name.

Syntax

bool rename ( string $source , string $target )

Parameters

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

$target : Required, the name of the target 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.

Rename a File

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

if (rename($old_name, $new_name)) {
    echo "文件重命名成功！";
} else {
    echo "文件重命名失败！";
}
?>

This script renames old_file.txt to new_file.txt and outputs a success or failure message.

Rename a Directory

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

if (rename($old_name, $new_name)) {
    echo "目录重命名成功！";
} else {
    echo "目录重命名失败！";
}
?>

This script renames the directory old_directory to new_directory with similar success/failure output.

Notes

The rename() function may be limited by file system permissions. Ensure you have sufficient rights to change the name, and that the source file or directory exists; otherwise rename() returns FALSE .

Summary

The rename() function is a powerful PHP tool for renaming files or directories. By specifying the source and target names, you can easily perform rename operations, as demonstrated in the example code snippets.