How can the clearstatcache function be used to ensure accurate file information in PHP?

When working with files in PHP, the clearstatcache function can be used to clear the file status cache, ensuring that accurate file information is retrieved when calling functions like file_exists, is_file, filesize, etc. This is particularly useful when working with files that are being modified or updated frequently, as it ensures that the most up-to-date information is being used.

// Example of using clearstatcache to ensure accurate file information
$file = 'example.txt';

// Check if file exists
if (file_exists($file)) {
    // Get file size
    $size = filesize($file);
    echo "File size: $size bytes";

    // Clear file status cache
    clearstatcache();

    // Get file size again
    $size = filesize($file);
    echo "Updated file size: $size bytes";
} else {
    echo "File does not exist";
}