passthru

Execute an external program and display raw output

&reftitle.description; ``false``null```passthru` `string` `command` `int` `result_code`&null;

The `passthru` function is similar to the `exec` function in that it executes a `command`. This function should be used in place of `exec` or `system` when the output from the Unix command is binary data which needs to be passed directly back to the browser. A common use for this is to execute something like the pbmplus utilities that can output an image stream directly. By setting the Content-type to `image/gif` and then calling a pbmplus program to output a gif, you can create PHP scripts that output images directly.

&reftitle.parameters;

`command`

- The command that will be executed.

`result_code`

- If the `result_code` argument is present, the return status of the Unix command will be placed here.

&reftitle.returnvalues;

&return.nullorfalse;

&reftitle.errors;

Will emit an `E_WARNING` if `passthru` is unable to execute the `command`.

Throws a `ValueError` if `command` is empty or contains null bytes.

&reftitle.changelog;

&Version; | &Description;
8.0.0 | If `command` is empty or contains null bytes, `passthru` now throws a `ValueError`. Previously it emitted an `E_WARNING` and returned &false;.

&reftitle.notes; &warn.escapeshell; ¬e.exec-bg;
&reftitle.seealso;

- `exec`
- `system`
- `popen`
- `escapeshellcmd`
- backtick operator