Scan a directory or table in database

I have a question: I have a set of files to make available for download. There is no tree, the file name is already clear, etc.

I have two opportunities to retrieve the file list:
- Place all files in a folder, scan the file and exit the list. And it has the advantage of easily by following the addition of new files (you stick in the folder, and it's good).
- Create a table that indexes all the files, then make a call out the basic list. A little more complicated to maintain thereafter, add an entry for each database file, etc.

My question is mainly in terms of speed: do a scan of directory which will actually be heavier than a call basis, or equivalent?

Yes, but if you stay in reasonable volumes of files, it will do. But by a database you simplify life later if you want to move the files elsewhere, or if you want to put in palc rights management

For volume, we will type in 10 or 20 large files up. Especially if many visitors that it worries me.

For moving, I just set the path of files in a file PHP constant and change it when it happens, right?

But, it is true that a scan through the directory, rights management is impossible ...

Around twenty files, it is strange. But as said above, it is preferable to use a file management via SQL, it will be much easier now, for instance if you want the future to implement a download counter.

And if you really have a lot of visits and the reduction of a select query to your database would make him the greatest good, directs you to a little cache system

If it is to scan your files, you've DirectoryIterator. The DirectoryIterator class provides a simple interface for viewing the contents of filesystem directories.

DirectoryIterator Methods:

• DirectoryIterator::__construct — Constructs a new directory iterator from a path
• DirectoryIterator::current — Return the current DirectoryIterator item.
• DirectoryIterator::getATime — Get last access time of the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getBasename — Get base name of current DirectoryIterator item.
• DirectoryIterator::getCTime — Get inode change time of the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getFilename — Return file name of current DirectoryIterator item.
• DirectoryIterator::getGroup — Get group for the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getInode — Get inode for the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getMTime — Get last modification time of current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getOwner — Get owner of current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getPath — Get path of current Iterator item without filename
• DirectoryIterator::getPathname — Return path and file name of current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getPerms — Get the permissions of current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getSize — Get size of current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::getType — Determine the type of the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::isDir — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item is a directory
• DirectoryIterator::isDot — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item is '.' or '..'
• DirectoryIterator::isExecutable — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item is executable
• DirectoryIterator::isFile — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item is a regular file
• DirectoryIterator::isLink — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item is a symbolic link
• DirectoryIterator::isReadable — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item can be read
• DirectoryIterator::isWritable — Determine if current DirectoryIterator item can be written to
• DirectoryIterator::key — Return the key for the current DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::next — Move forward to next DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::rewind — Rewind the DirectoryIterator back to the start
• DirectoryIterator::seek — Seek to a DirectoryIterator item
• DirectoryIterator::__toString — Get file name as a string
• DirectoryIterator::valid — Check whether current DirectoryIterator position is a valid file