Why does getcwd() returns / in __destruct()?

Question

I have just noticed that getcwd() return "/" if called within __destruct() magic function, while in any other method it returns the expected path.

Do you have an explanation for this?

Answer 1

It's a SAPI behaivor

"Destructors called during the script shutdown have HTTP headers already sent. The working directory in the script shutdown phase can be different with some SAPIs (e.g. Apache)."

From http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.decon.php

But as mentioned in other answers there are plenty ways to get the current relative path. If you changed it during runtime make sure to note somewhere inside the object.

Answer 2

There is an old bug.

Instead of getcwd(), could you use __FILE__?