php glob: Explore Subfolders for a Specific File

Searching a vast array of files scattered across different folders and subfolders can be a daunting task. However, PHP's glob function provides a versatile solution to address this challenge.

Your initial attempt involved using glob to search within the root directory. To extend its reach beyond the root, consider the following two approaches:

1. Recursive glob with rglob function:

The rglob function enhances glob's capabilities by enabling recursive searches. It recursively descends into subdirectories, returning all matching files. For instance:

function rglob($pattern, $flags = 0) {
    $files = glob($pattern, $flags);
    foreach (glob(dirname($pattern).'/*', GLOB_ONLYDIR|GLOB_NOSORT) as $dir) {
        $files = array_merge([], ...[$files, rglob($dir . "/". basename($pattern), $flags)]);
    }
    return $files;
}

$result = rglob($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/test.zip');
var_dump($result);

2. Recursive Directory Iterator:

The RecursiveDirectoryIterator class is another option for recursive file searching. It provides a more flexible and object-oriented approach:

function rsearch($folder, $regPattern) {
    $dir = new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($folder);
    $ite = new RecursiveIteratorIterator($dir);
    $files = new RegexIterator($ite, $regPattern, RegexIterator::GET_MATCH);
    $fileList = array();
    foreach($files as $file) {
        $fileList = array_merge($fileList, $file);
    }
    return $fileList;
}

$result = rsearch($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'], '/.*\/test\.zip/');
var_dump($result);

Both approaches can effectively scan subfolders for the specified file. Choose the one that best suits your project's requirements and preferences.