This tutorial is to help you to read a CSV file or data. Character Separated Values(CSV) or Comma Separated Values is a file type containing plain text content with a comma or a character as separators.
It is a convenient form to store simple data. PHP has two inbuilt functions to read CSV file.
This function accepts CSV file handle as mandatory argument. It reads CSV data and converts it into array.
The syntax is,
<?php
fgetcsv($file_handle, $limit, $separator, $enclosure, $escape_character);
?>
| Parameters | Description |
|---|---|
| $file_handle | CSV file resource data. |
| $limit | Max length for reading a line of data. |
| $separator | Character delimiter. |
| $enclosure | Character used to enclose values |
| $escape_character | Escape character while reading CSV. |
Note:
First, we have to create a CSV file handle by opening required CSV file. The CSV file we have used for this example is,
fruits.csv
"Apple","RED","#D62433"
"Orange","ORANDE","#FEB635"
"Banana","YELLOW","#FEE492"
"Grapes","VIOLET","#B370AD"
"KIWI","GREEN","#9BA207"
"Dates","BROWN","#922E2F"
In the above CSV file, it has Comma(,) as a separator and Double Quotes(“) as an enclosure.
The CSV file contains fruits table records. Values represent name, color and color code of the fruits. The PHP script to read this file is,
<?php
$CSVfp = fopen("fruits.csv", "r");
if ($CSVfp !== FALSE) {
while (! feof($CSVfp)) {
$data = fgetcsv($CSVfp, 1000, ",");
print_r($data);
}
}
fclose($CSVfp);
?>
In this script, we are invoking fgetCSV() by moving CSV file pointer until it reaches the end of the line. Each time, it converts a current line of data into an array.
The function str_getcsv() is for reading CSV from string data instead of file resource. The syntax is,
<?php
str_getcsv($csv_string, $separator, $enclosure, $escape_character);
?>
The first argument is used to pass CSV string data to this function. Rest of the arguments are for the same purpose as we have seen in fgetcsv(). In this function, there is no limit for the reading line of CSV string.
First, we have to store fruits.CSV file content into a variable and pass it into str_getcsv(). And then, this function is called for separating lines with appropriate line breaks. While iterating among these lines it will be further separated into fields. The script is,
<?php
$str_CSV = '"Apple","RED","#D62433"
"Orange","ORANDE","#FEB635"
"Banana","YELLOW","#FEE492"
"Grapes","VIOLET","#B370AD"
"KIWI","GREEN","#9BA207"
"Dates","BROWN","#922E2F"';
$row = str_getcsv($str_CSV, "\n");
$length = count($row);
for ($i = 0; $i < $length; $i ++) {
$data = str_getcsv($row[$i], ",");
print_r($data);
}
?>
We will get the same output for both examples.
Array([0] => Apple [1] => RED [2] => #D62433)
Array([0] => Orange [1] => ORANDE [2] => #FEB635)
Array([0] => Banana [1] => YELLOW [2] => #FEE492)
Array([0] => Grapes [1] => VIOLET [2] => #B370AD)
Array([0] => KIWI [1] => GREEN [2] => #9BA207)
Array([0] => Dates [1] => BROWN [2] => #922E2F)
By iterating this array, we can handle these data in the variety of ways. For example, displaying CSV in grid view or creating query statements and etc.
Displaying CSV Data in Grid View
Creating Queries using CSV Data
Download PHP CSV File Read Source Code
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Hi Vincy,
Thank you for this tutorial. CSV file access examples found in source download were very useful.
Awesome tutorial. I just found this place and it is really helpful. Thanks
Thank you Jay.
this is slow
Why you do not use the SQL command
LOAD DATA INFILE ‘c:\\data\\file_to_import.csv’
INTO TABLE TableName
CHARACTER SET latin1 — or utf8
COLUMNS TERMINATED BY ‘,’
OPTIONALLY ENCLOSED BY ‘”‘
ESCAPED BY ‘\’
LINES TERMINATED BY ‘\n’
IGNORE 1 LINES — Remove header ligne
( column1,column2,column3,column4,column5, ….. );
This command is very much faster
I have presented the PHP based solution and you have given a different option. Anyways thanks for the comment.