PHP rename Function

last modified April 3, 2025

The PHP rename function renames a file or directory. It can also move files between directories if paths are on the same filesystem.

Basic Definition

The rename function changes the name or location of a file/directory. It returns true on success or false on failure.

Syntax: rename(string $oldname, string $newname, resource $context = null): bool. Both parameters must be strings representing valid paths.

Basic File Rename Example

This shows the simplest usage of rename to rename a file.

basic_rename.php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

$oldname = 'oldfile.txt';
$newname = 'newfile.txt';

if (rename($oldname, $newname)) {
    echo "File renamed successfully";
} else {
    echo "Error renaming file";
}

This renames 'oldfile.txt' to 'newfile.txt' in the same directory. The function returns true if successful. Always check the return value for errors.

Moving a File Between Directories

rename can move files between directories on the same filesystem.

move_file.php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

$source = 'documents/report.txt';
$destination = 'archives/report_2023.txt';

if (rename($source, $destination)) {
    echo "File moved and renamed successfully";
} else {
    echo "Error moving file";
}

This moves report.txt from documents to archives while renaming it. Both operations happen atomically. The directories must exist beforehand.

Directory Rename Example

rename works with directories just like with files.

rename_dir.php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

$olddir = 'temp';
$newdir = 'temporary_files';

if (rename($olddir, $newdir)) {
    echo "Directory renamed successfully";
} else {
    echo "Error renaming directory";
}

This renames the 'temp' directory to 'temporary_files'. The operation fails if the target directory exists or if permissions are insufficient.

Error Handling Example

Proper error handling is essential when working with filesystem operations.

error_handling.php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

$old = 'nonexistent.txt';
$new = 'newfile.txt';

if (!file_exists($old)) {
    die("Source file doesn't exist");
}

if (file_exists($new)) {
    die("Target file already exists");
}

if (!rename($old, $new)) {
    die("Error: " . error_get_last()['message']);
}

echo "File renamed successfully";

This checks for common error conditions before attempting the rename. It also provides detailed error messages if the operation fails.

Cross-Device Rename Example

When moving between filesystems, rename may fail and require copy.

cross_device.php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

function moveFile(string $source, string $dest): bool {
    if (rename($source, $dest)) {
        return true;
    }
    
    if (!copy($source, $dest)) {
        return false;
    }
    
    unlink($source);
    return true;
}

$result = moveFile('/mnt/volume1/file.txt', '/mnt/volume2/file.txt');
echo $result ? "Success" : "Failed";

This attempts a direct rename first, then falls back to copy+delete if needed. The function handles cases where source and target are on different devices.

Best Practices

Check Permissions: Verify read/write permissions beforehand.
Validate Paths: Ensure paths are valid and accessible.
Handle Errors: Implement proper error handling logic.
Atomic Operations: Use rename for atomic file updates.
Backup: Consider backups for critical operations.

Source

PHP rename Documentation

This tutorial covered the PHP rename function with practical examples showing file and directory renaming and moving operations.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar, and I am a passionate programmer with extensive programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. To date, I have authored over 1,400 articles and 8 e-books. I possess more than ten years of experience in teaching programming.

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