Topic awaiting preservation: [php] when to flock?

When is flock() required?

I have a script that reads a file using file() but does not write to it, do I need to lock the file?

Or is it required only when writing to a file?

thanks,
--monkey

you'll only need to php->flock() if the file is being changed.
But if it is, you'll need to lock on both reading and writing!
And of course you only need to lock if reading & writing could happen simultaniously - but that's a given in a web enviroment.

Oh, and I personally don't use file() because I can't tell it to read my files in binary.
And I hate having the OS convert my line endings for me.

So long,
->Tyberius Prime

PS: Turn this in a faq when the discussion is done.