We've come a long way since "back in the day" when it was the "in-thing" to work with flat-files to store application data. Back then (let's say early 1990's) it was popular to save records in CSV formatted plain text files, separated by new lines. Today in late 2002, things are a lot different.

In this new article from DevArticles.com, he talks about working with these flat-text files, and how you can master them and bend them to your will (despite the fact that a database is usually a better option if it's there). He steps you through some examples and some sample script so that you can get a handle (no pun intended) on your files. He covers the basics, then drops you in the middle of an example that really shows you how to write and use files in PHP.

Files have their place in PHP, and allow you a bit more control over structure and information on your site, but so much of what is put in files can be dropped into a database somewhere and queried with things in place ten times more powerful than you could easily write - plus, it's already out there! Use it!