[Resolved] difference bet. filesize and readfile

[PallaviDalvi]

am not sure if at all this question makes sense ...but i'm confused.
filesize and readfile... both seem to be doing the same to me. is there any difference bet. the two or i can use one as a replacement of the other without much thought?

since the PHP manuals all over the web speak the same language... searching on the web didnt help me and i am now forced to expose my stupid question on this forum.
May u be blessed for clearing a confused mind!

[laserlight]

readfile() opens the file, reads from it, closes the file and prints what was read.

filesize() gives the size of the file, using the byte as the unit of measurement.

They are completely different.

[PallaviDalvi]

when i use the following
$fl_cont=readfile("textfile.txt");

$fl_size=filesize("textfile.txt");

displaying $fl_cont and $fl_size display the same result... i.e the size of the file. maybe i am using the functions in a wrong way.

when i read the PHP manual it said that readfile Reads a file and writes it to the output buffer. Returns the number of bytes read from the file. that added to my confusion! Please sort out things for me if u can!Thanx for the help!

[drawmack]

Filesize just gets the size, in bytes, of the file. So it is quicker with less server load is all you want to know is the size of the file.

Readfile opens the file, reads it and prints the results to the screen while returning the size, in bytes, to the calling script. Which is going a bit overboard is all you want is to find out how big the file is.

[PallaviDalvi]

Thanx for the help! Just that in my confusion i had failed to note that readfile also prints the contents of the file in addition to returning the no of bytes! 🙂 thanx for the patient answers!

[brockn]

Sounds like this one s resolved, huh?