What are the best practices for linking file names to their original files in PHP?
When linking file names to their original files in PHP, it is important to ensure that the file paths are properly sanitized to prevent any security vulnerabilities. One common approach is to store the file paths in a database and then retrieve them when needed. Another option is to use a consistent naming convention for files and store the mapping in an associative array or JSON file. It is also recommended to use PHP's built-in functions like realpath() to resolve any symbolic links and ensure the correct file path is used.
// Example of storing file paths in a database
$filename = 'example.txt';
$file_path = '/path/to/files/' . $filename;
// Store file path in database
$db = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=mydatabase', 'username', 'password');
$stmt = $db->prepare('INSERT INTO files (filename, file_path) VALUES (?, ?)');
$stmt->execute([$filename, $file_path]);
// Retrieve file path from database
$stmt = $db->prepare('SELECT file_path FROM files WHERE filename = ?');
$stmt->execute([$filename]);
$row = $stmt->fetch();
$original_file_path = $row['file_path'];
echo $original_file_path;