PHP – Move a file into a different folder on the server

The rename function does this

docs rename

rename('image1.jpg', 'del/image1.jpg');

If you want to keep the existing file on the same place you should use copy

docs copy

copy('image1.jpg', 'del/image1.jpg');

If you want to move an uploaded file use the move_uploaded_file, although this is almost the same as rename this function also checks that the given file is a file that was uploaded via the POST, this prevents for example that a local file is moved

docs move_uploaded_file

$uploads_dir = '/uploads';
foreach ($_FILES["pictures"]["error"] as $key => $error) {
    if ($error == UPLOAD_ERR_OK) {
        $tmp_name = $_FILES["pictures"]["tmp_name"][$key];
        $name = $_FILES["pictures"]["name"][$key];
        move_uploaded_file($tmp_name, "$uploads_dir/$name");
    }
}

code snipet from docs