PHP fileatime() Function Usage and Example

PHP Filesystem Reference Manual

The fileatime() function can return the last access time of the specified file. If successful, this function can return the last access time as a Unix timestamp, or return false if it fails.

Syntax

int　fileatime　(　string　$filename　)

The result of this function is cached. We can use the clearstatcache() function to clear the cache.

The access time of the file can be changed every time a data block in the file is read. Some Unix systems may disable access time updates because updating access times can affect performance when applications regularly access a large number of files. Disabling access time updates can improve the performance of such programs.

Example1

<?php
　　　echo　fileatime("sample.txt");
　　　echo　"\n";
　　　echo　"Last accessed:　".date("F　d　Y　H:i:s.",fileatime("sample.txt"));
?>

Output Result

1590217956
Last accessed:　May　23　2020　09:12:36.

Example2

<?php
　　　$filename　=　"/PhpProject/sample.txt";
　　　if(file_exists($filename))　{
　　　　　　echo　"$filename　Last accessed time:　"　.　date("F　d　Y　H:i:s.",　fileatime($filename));
　　　}
?>

Output Result

/PhpProject/sample.txt　Last accessed time:　May　23　2020　09:12:36.

PHP Filesystem Reference Manual