PHP file doesn't write to current directory?

Question

I have a PHP file on a web-host that is as follows:

<?php

file_put_contents('test.txt','TEST');    
echo 'OK';

?>

But the file test.txt is not created when I execute the page from a browser. Why not? Is it a permissions issue?

Answer 1

yes the PHP Doc Says

If filename does not exist, the file is created. Otherwise, the existing file is overwritten, unless the FILE_APPEND flag is set.

That is only if you write have permission on that folder .... try

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set("display_errors", "on");

if (! is_writable(__DIR__)) {
    trigger_error("I don't have permission");
}

file_put_contents('test.txt', 'TEST');

Answer 2

Why not? Is it a permissions issue?

The question you should be asking yourself is why don't you know already?

The code will be producing an error or warning - why don't you know what that is?

It's likely a permissions issue - what are the permissions?

BTWE: writing content within your document root, to a directory which will execute PHP is a huge security vulnerability. i.e. if it is a permissions issue, then changing the permissions is the wrong way to solve the problem.