Is using file_exists() to check for the existence of a file in a specific directory sufficient for security purposes in PHP?

Using `file_exists()` alone is not sufficient for security purposes in PHP because it only checks if a file exists in a specific directory but does not verify if the file is accessible or safe to use. To enhance security, it is recommended to combine `file_exists()` with additional checks such as validating file paths, restricting file types, and setting proper file permissions. 

$directory = '/path/to/directory/';
$filename = 'example.txt';

if (file_exists($directory . $filename) && is_readable($directory . $filename)) {
    // File exists and is readable, safe to use
    // Additional security checks can be added here
} else {
    // Handle error or security violation
}

Keywords

file_exists security PHP directory existence

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