Questions and answers about file locking in PHP file processing

In the previous article "How to delete a directory in PHP (detailed examples)", the relevant knowledge of deleting directories in PHP was introduced in detail. Deleting a non-empty directory is slightly more complicated. In this article, we will take a look at the relevant knowledge of file locking in PHP. I hope it will be helpful to everyone!

In previous articles we have learned a lot about file processing related knowledge, such as writing files, reading files, etc. One of them is called file lock . The understanding of file locking may be a bit abstract, because the file locking mechanism generally has no effect when opening a file.

What exactly is a file lock? What is he used for? Why do we use file locks? How do we use it? With these questions, let us take a look at the relevant knowledge of file locks.

What is a file lock?

The first question is, simply put, file lock is a file protection mechanism. It can be understood that when you are reading or writing this file, there is already a file. A protection mechanism for the file when operating on the file, for example to prevent another operation on the file while it is being operated.

The purpose of file lock

If a file has a file lock, when I use this file, only I can access the file To operate, unless the file lock is released, others will not be able to interfere with my operations on the file. Only one person can be allowed to operate at the same time to prevent data errors.

If there is no file lock and multiple people operate the same file, it is very likely to cause data errors or asymmetry, so it is necessary to use file locks. This is what files are used for and why file locks are used.

How to use file lock:flock()Function

Next let’s take a look at how to use this PHP File lock, first we need to know that we can lock the file through the flock() function after opening the file.

flock()The basic syntax format of the function is as follows:

flock(resource $handle, int $operation[, int &$wouldblock])

What needs to be noted is:

Parameter$handlerepresents the pointer of the file system, which is the file resource created throughfopen(); the parameter$operationrepresents the file Lock type; the parameter$wouldblockis an optional parameter, which means it can be set to1ortrue, so that the file will block when it is locked. Block other processes.

Let’s introduce the type of parameter $operation:

• LOCK_EXrepresents a write lock , that is, it is in a write-lock state when writing. Others cannot write or read. They can only be restored after unlocking.

• LOCK_SHrepresents a shared lock. It is understood that others can only read, but cannot write. Reply after unlocking.

• LOCK_UNrepresents the release of the above two states. That is, unlocked.

• LOCK_NBmeans that after reading or writing, when the file is locked, notification access will be returned immediately The file is locked.

Next let’s take a look at an example. The example is as follows:

Output result:

# Data is written in ##test.txt:

#From the above example, we have completed the file lock operation on the file. After the operation is completed, use the fclose() function to close the file; then read the file contents through the readfile() function. What needs to be noted is:

When we use the flock() function, the file is locked. If we want the file to be unlocked automatically, we only need to call the fclose() function. When we write code, it is better to add an unlock statement after using the file lock.

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