PHP Get path of file -

somewhere in pc there txt file, test.txt let's call it, location may vary pc pc. there way, path can read? can use of course

$file = file_get_contents(path); 

but comes when know current path. how can retrieve path in case? ty

if on linux/unix box, can use locate , parse result. windows has similar solution:

<?php  $search = "test.txt";  $result = shell_exec("locate $search"); //array of files test.txt in name  $matchingfiles = explode(php_eol, $result);  //that gets files may named else test in name //like phptest.txt rid of junk  $files = array(); //array possible candidates stored  if (!empty($matchingfiles)) {     //we found @ least 1     foreach ($matchingfiles $f) {         //if file named test.txt, , not phptest.txt         if (basename($f) === $search) {             $files[] = $f;         }     } }  if (empty($files)) {     //we didn't find     echo $search . ' not found.'; } else {     if (count($files) > 1) {         //we found many. 1 want?         echo "more 1 match found." . php_eol;         echo print_r($files, true);     } else { //then found         $file = file_get_contents($files[0]);     } }