<?PHP 
 
FUNCTION get_oldest_file($directory) { 
    IF ($handle = OPENDIR($directory)) { 
        WHILE (FALSE !== ($file = READDIR($handle))) { 
            $files[] = $file; 
        } 
        FOREACH ($files AS $val) { 
            IF (IS_FILE($directory.$val)) { 
                $file_date[$val] = FILEMTIME($directory.$val); 
            } 
        } 
    } 
    CLOSEDIR($handle); 
    ASORT($file_date, SORT_NUMERIC); 
    RESET($file_date); 
    $oldest = KEY($file_date); 
    RETURN $oldest; 
} 
// example: 
ECHO get_oldest_file("/the/path/to/the/directory"); 
 
?>