file() and readfile()

[omegaorion]

the documentation states

file is "Identical to readfile(), except that file() returns the file in an array."

if that were true (as I understand it) then:

echo join('',file($location));

&

readfile($location);

should have indistinguishable results.

yet when I do that I get the valid file info from readfile() , but file() appears to be missing some parts.

Anyone have any ideas as to what my problem may be?

RedHat 7.1, PHP 4.0.5, Apache 1.3.19

Chris

[Anon]

readfile() just dumps the output to the browser. It is akin to the browser itself calling the file, in that it will print it out automatically.

They work the same as far as calling up the file, but file() simply returns an array, and does not print it out.