Using scandir() to find folders in a directory (PHP)

I am using this peice of code..

$target = 'extracted/' . $name[0];  
$scan = scandir($target);

To scan the directory of a folder which is used for zip uploads. I want to be able to find all the folders inside my $target folder so i can delete them and there contents, leaving only the files in the $target directory.

Once i have returned the contents of the folder, i dont know how to differentiate between the folders and the files to be able to delete the folders.

Also, i have been told that the rmdir() function cant delete folders which have content inside them, is there anyway around this?

Thanks, Ben.

From stackoverflow

• First off, rmdir() cannot delete a folder with contents. If safe mode is disabled you can use the following.

  exec("rm -rf folder/");
  

  Also look at is_dir()/is_file() or even better the PHP SPL.

  Ben McRae : your remove function worked a treat! what does rm -rf actually do? thanks

• To determine whether or not you have a folder or file use the functions is_dir() and is_file()

  For example:

  $path = 'extracted/' . $name[0];
  $results = scandir($path);
  
  foreach ($results as $result) {
      if ($result === '.' or $result === '..') continue;
  
      if (is_dir($path . '/' . $result)) {
          //code to use if directory
      }
  }
  

  Ben McRae : This is brilliant, works perfectly! Unfotunatly i dont understand what this part does 'if ($result === '.' or $result === '..') continue;', would you mind explaining please. Thanks again.

  : @Ben McRae: This is because scandir returns the results "." and ".." as part of the array, and in most cases you want to ignore those results, which is why I included that as part of the foreach

• $directories = scandir('images');
  foreach($directories as $directory){
      if($directory=='.' or $directory=='..' ){
          echo 'dot';
      }else{
              echo $directory .'<br />';
  }
  } 
  

  a simpler and perhaps faster version