[SOLUTION] search for string in php files

search for string in php files

Hi,

I am looking for php function which would search for a string(s) in all the PHP files in a specific directory (including subdirectories). If possible, If I can exclude the specific folder while searching. I would want the list of all files using specified string(s).

Any help / lead will be appreciated.

Thanks

<?php // FOLDER TO SEARCH IN $target_folder = "./"; // TEXT TO SEARCH FOR $searchtext = 'in_array'; // CALL SEARCH FUNCTION $res = doSearch($target_folder, $searchtext); // DUMP RESULTS echo "<pre>" . print_r($res, true) . "</pre>"; // RECURSIVE SEARCH FUNCTION function doSearch($target, $searchtext) { $results = array(); if (is_dir($target)) { if ($dh = opendir($target)) { while(($file = readdir($dh)) != false) { if ($file == '.' || $file == '..') continue; if (is_dir($file)) { $subdir = "{$target}{$file}/"; $results = array_merge($results, doSearch($subdir, $searchtext)); } else { $ext = strtolower(end(explode('.', $file))); if ( $ext == 'php') { $path = $target . $file; if( strpos(file_get_contents($path),$searchtext) !== false) { $results[] = $path; } } } } closedir($dh); } } return $results; }

Two small changes are needed
1. Prepend the $target path to the file when do an is_dir check
2. Add set_time_limit to the loop to prevent script from timing out if operation takes longer than timeout limit (default 30 sec)

Updated code below

<?php
// FOLDER TO SEARCH IN
$target_folder  = "../";
// TEXT TO SEARCH FOR
$searchtext = 'in_array';

// CALL SEARCH FUNCTION
$res = doSearch($target_folder, $searchtext);

// DUMP RESULTS
echo "<pre>" . print_r($res, true) . "</pre>";


// RECURSIVE SEARCH FUNCTION
function doSearch($target, $searchtext) {
  set_time_limit(120);
  $results = array();
  if (is_dir($target)) {
    if ($dh = opendir($target)) {      
      while(($file = readdir($dh)) != false) {
        if ($file == '.' || $file == '..') continue;
        if (is_dir($target . $file)) {
          $subdir = "{$target}{$file}/";
          $results = array_merge($results, doSearch($subdir, $searchtext));
        }
        else {
          $ext = strtolower(end(explode('.', $file)));
          if ( $ext == 'php') {
            $path = $target . $file;
            if( strpos(file_get_contents($path),$searchtext) !== false) {
              $results[] = $path;
            }
          }
        }
      }
      closedir($dh);
    }
  }
  return $results;
}

Open in new window

I wear a lot of hats...

"The solutions and answers provided on Experts Exchange have been extremely helpful to me over the last few years. I wear a lot of hats - Developer, Database Administrator, Help Desk, etc., so I know a lot of things but not a lot about one thing. Experts Exchange gives me answers from people who do know a lot about one thing, in a easy to use platform." -Todd S.

LVL 66

Julian HansenCommented: 2015-11-02

Does this have to be part of an application or is it separate? Will you need to repeat this process?
There are many tools for searching through files for specific strings or patterns - they differ based on the use-case.

Rahul SehrawatAuthor Commented: 2015-11-02

I am actually creating a application. So it will be part of that. and yes, this process will be repeated time to time.

Thanks

LVL 31

Olaf DoschkeSoftware DeveloperCommented: 2015-11-02

Take a look at http://php.net/manual/de/class.directoryiterator.php
Once you have a list of files you can iterate them and use http://php.net/manual/de/function.file-get-contents.php to search them for a term.

By the way, many editors have that functionality built in already.

Bye, Olaf.

You could do something like this

Hi Julian,

Thanks for the function. I am only facing one issues with the function that when I set target as "../" it doesn't work.

Thanks

Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by

Your issues matter to us.

Facing a tech roadblock? Get the help and guidance you need from experienced professionals who care. Ask your question anytime, anywhere, with no hassle.

Start your 7-day free trial

Rahul SehrawatAuthor Commented: 2015-11-11

Awesome. Works like a charm. :)

Julian HansenCommented: 2015-11-11

You are welcome.

search for string in php files

Who is Participating?