How can error handling be implemented in PHP when attempting to replace files to ensure the process runs smoothly?

When attempting to replace files in PHP, it's important to implement error handling to ensure the process runs smoothly. One way to do this is by using functions like `file_exists()` to check if the file exists before attempting to replace it, and `unlink()` to delete the existing file before moving the new one into place. Additionally, using `try-catch` blocks can help catch any potential errors that may occur during the file replacement process. 

$filename = 'example.txt';

if (file_exists($filename)) {
    unlink($filename);
}

try {
    if (!rename('new_file.txt', $filename)) {
        throw new Exception('Failed to replace file');
    }
    echo 'File replaced successfully';
} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
}

Keywords

error handling file replacement PHP functions exception handling file system operations

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