Why do I need `fclose` after writing to a file in PHP?

Question

Why do I need to finish by using the fclose($handle) function after writing to a file using php? Doesn\'t the program automatically do this when it ends?

Answer 1

When a file is opened, a lock is placed on it, preventing other processes from using it. fclose() removes this lock.

$handle is not an object, just a pointer. So there is no destructor telling it to unlock.