Using PHP rewind() Function to Reset the File Pointer

PHP provides a rich set of functions for file manipulation, and one of them is rewind() . The rewind() function repositions the file pointer to the beginning of the file, allowing the file to be read again or other operations to be performed.

Usage:

rewind(resource $handle): bool

Parameter Description:

$handle : required. The file pointer resource.

Return Value:

Returns true on success, false on failure.

Example 1: Read file content and use rewind() to reset the pointer

$file = fopen("example.txt", "r");

// Read file content
while (!feof($file)) {
    echo fgets($file) . "
";
}

// Reset pointer to the beginning
rewind($file);

// Read file content again
while (!feof($file)) {
    echo fgets($file) . "
";
}

fclose($file);

The code opens example.txt , reads and outputs its content, calls rewind() to move the pointer back to the start, and reads the content a second time.

Example 2: Use rewind() during file write operations

$file = fopen("example.txt", "w+");

// Write to the file
fwrite($file, "Hello, PHP!");

// Reset pointer to the beginning
rewind($file);

// Read the written content
echo fgets($file);

fclose($file);

This example creates a new file with mode w+ , writes a string, rewinds the pointer, and then reads back the written content.

Summary:

By using the rewind() function, developers can easily reposition the file pointer to the start of a file, enabling repeated reads or further processing after writing. Ensure the file is opened before calling rewind() , and combine it with other file‑handling functions as needed.