PHP fscanf() Function: Usage and Examples

Use fscanf() when you need to reads formatted values from an open stream using scanf-style placeholders in a PHP application. The examples below show the actual operation and its limitations.

What Is fscanf() in PHP?

Reads formatted values from an open stream using scanf-style placeholders. The exact signature supported by your installation depends on its PHP version and enabled extensions.

Its syntax is:

fscanf($stream, string $format, mixed &...$vars = ...): array|int|false|null

Parameters and return value: The parameter types, optional arguments, references, and return type are shown in the signature above. Optional parameters are marked with an ellipsis in this reference signature.

Example 1: Basic Usage

<?php

$stream = fopen("php://temp","w+"); fwrite($stream,"Alex 32
"); rewind($stream); print_r(fscanf($stream,"%s %d")); fclose($stream);

Output:

Array
(
    [0] => Alex
    [1] => 32
)

Example 2: Different Input or Behavior

<?php

$stream = fopen("php://temp","w+"); fwrite($stream,"12.5 8
"); rewind($stream); print_r(fscanf($stream,"%f %d")); fclose($stream);

Output:

Array
(
    [0] => 12.5
    [1] => 8
)

Practical Example: Applying the Function

<?php

$stream = fopen("php://temp","w+"); fwrite($stream,"apple,4
pear,7
"); rewind($stream); while (($record = fscanf($stream,"%[^,],%d")) !== false) { if ($record[0] !== null) echo $record[0] . ":" . $record[1] . PHP_EOL; } fclose($stream);

Output:

apple:4
pear:7

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

The input must match the expected format; use fgetcsv() for real CSV with quoting rules.

Comparison With Related Functions

Common Beginner Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Reads formatted values from an open stream using scanf-style placeholders.
• The input must match the expected format; use fgetcsv() for real CSV with quoting rules.
• sscanf() parses an existing string; fscanf() reads an open stream.

Use fscanf() for the specific operation demonstrated above. Check its prerequisites and handle failure conditions before using it with production data.