Why does using feof cause an extra read after the last line? How to avoid it?

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<p><h1>Why does using feof cause an extra read after the last line? How to avoid it?</h1></p>
<p><p>In PHP, when using <code></span>feof<span>()

This way, the loop body executes only when content is successfully read, preventing an unnecessary empty read.

Summary

• feof() only returns true after a read attempt fails, so using it alone as the loop condition leads to an extra read.


• It is recommended to use while (($line = fgets($handle)) !== false) to ensure robust logic.


• Understanding file pointers and EOF detection helps avoid common file reading pitfalls.

Once you’ve mastered the correct usage, working with files in PHP becomes more efficient and reliable.