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# filetype

(PHP 3, PHP 4, PHP 5)

filetype -- Gets file type

## Description

string filetype ( string filename )

Returns the type of the file. Possible values are fifo, char, dir, block, link, file, and unknown.

Returns `FALSE` if an error occurs. filetype() will also produce an `E_NOTICE` message if the stat call fails or if the file type is unknown.

> Note: The results of this function are cached. See clearstatcache() for more details.

> Tip: As of PHP 5.0.0 this function can also be used with some URL wrappers. Refer to Appendix M for a listing of which wrappers support stat() family of functionality.

Example 1. filetype() example

`<?php echo filetype('/etc/passwd'); // file echo filetype('/etc/'); // dir ?>`

See also is_dir(), is_file(), is_link(), file_exists(), stat(), and mime_content_type().

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