PHP escaping \14 character in file paths

Question

I know there're plenty of topics regarding escaping characters but I just can't find the solution for my problem.

It's very easy. This is string I have:

$path = "C:\Users\Me\Desktop\14409238.jpg";

Howver, no matter how many escaping techniques I use, I can't manage to display the correct path without destroying it. In all cases the \14 will be replaced with

C:\Users\Me\Desktopd09238.jpg

How do I solve this?

Or you can use single quotes. PHP will use it as literal string. — frz3993, Jul 28 '15 at 20:48
@Rizier123 that is the right answer, should not be in the comments. — Nytrix, Jul 28 '15 at 20:49
Thanks for your replies. I had forgotten to mention that $path is the output I get, I have no influence on it whatsoever. I have to deal with what it gives me. — thaikolja, Jul 28 '15 at 21:01

score 3 · Answer 1 · 2015-08-24T20:12:06.867

3

try to change, the Physical path to access the image, stored on Desktop can be written as,

$path = "C:\Users\Me\Desktop\14409238.jpg";

to

$path = "C:\\Users\\Me\\Desktop\\14409238.jpg";

edited Aug 24 '15 at 20:12

answered Jul 28 '15 at 20:49

Thanks for your reply. However, I had forgotten that I do not have control over what $path gives me. And well, it does give me those annoying backslashes. – thaikolja Jul 28 '15 at 21:01
1

Why should the OP "try this"? A good answer will always have an explanation of what was done and why it was done that way, not only for the OP but for future visitors to SO. – Jay Blanchard Aug 24 '15 at 20:04

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 28 '15 at 20:50

Don't use backslashes in PHP for windows paths. It's smart enough to convert for you:

$path = "c:/users/me/desktop/...";

Using backslashes runs into the exact problem you have - backslashing certain characters turns them into metacharacters, not regular characters.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 28 '15 at 20:51

1

Avoid the situation entirely, PHP under Windows allows you to submit paths with the backslash

c://Users/Me/Desktop/file.jpg

This also avoids interoperability headaches when a script must run within .nix and Windows.

answered Jul 28 '15 at 20:51

Michael Morris

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It's not just PHP that allows it. This is part of Windows itself. – Barmar Jul 28 '15 at 20:55

PHP escaping \14 character in file paths

3 Answers3