Why are there "core" files in my webspace?

Why Are “core” Files Appearing in My Webspace?

From time to time you may see files named core (or core.) appear in your website’s folders. These are core dumps—automatic “snapshots” of a program’s memory taken when it crashes. They help developers diagnose bugs in the underlying software.

How Core Dumps Happen

• Your PHP script (or another program running under Apache) attempted to call an undefined or disabled function (for example, exec() or shell_exec()).
• A bug in a beta or custom extension caused a crash.
• An unexpected memory issue or incompatibility in a third-party library.

What Core Dumps Contain

Each core file records the program’s memory at the moment it failed, including:

• Exact location in the code where the crash occurred
• The values of variables and data structures
• The call stack (which functions led up to the error)

Developers use these details to fix bugs before rebuilding or updating the software.

Is My Account Compromised?

No. Core dumps are system-generated by Apache or PHP’s debugging build and do not indicate a hack or unauthorized access.

Can I Delete Them?

Yes. You can safely remove any core files from your webspace. Doing so will not affect your site’s operation. If the underlying crash persists, new core files may reappear until the bug is fixed.

Need Help?

If you see core dumps frequently and need assistance troubleshooting, please open a support ticket. Includes:

• The folder path where the core files appear
• Approximate date and time of creation
• Any recent changes you made (new plugins, scripts, etc.)