here, we're opening a file called "myfilename.txt" and saying that we wish to write to it.  The "w", which is what tells PHP we want to write to the file, is called the Access Mode.  Other values that can be used, and their meanings are: r read only r+ reading and writing w write only & create the file if it doesn't exist w+ reading and writing & create the file if it doesn't exist a writing only, create if it doesn't exist, and place a file position pointer at the end of the file (appends records to an existing file) a+ reading and writing, create if it doesn't exist and place file position pointer at the end of the file