What are some common challenges faced by PHP beginners when working with file manipulation and sorting functions?

One common challenge faced by PHP beginners when working with file manipulation and sorting functions is properly handling file paths and permissions. It is important to ensure that the file paths are correct and that the user has the necessary permissions to read, write, or delete files. Additionally, beginners may struggle with understanding how to properly use sorting functions to organize files in a desired order.

// Example code snippet for handling file paths and permissions
$file = 'example.txt';

// Check if file exists
if (file_exists($file)) {
    // Check if file is readable
    if (is_readable($file)) {
        // Read file contents
        $contents = file_get_contents($file);
        echo $contents;
    } else {
        echo "File is not readable.";
    }
} else {
    echo "File does not exist.";
}