Reading workbooks

Choose the Right Excel Reading Method

Compare row streaming, native arrays, first-row access, counts, structured summaries, selected columns, and direct cells before choosing an API.

Updated July 30, 2026

Full packageIndividual XLSXLow memory

Available sincev2.0.3Last API changev2.0.5Version guide

LevelBeginnerReading time8 minPackagemnb/mnb-phpexcel or mnb/mnb-phpexcel-xlsx

ReadSession::rows()ReadSession::toArray()ReadSession::first()ReadSession::countRows()ReadSession::hasRows()ReadSession::toStructuredSheetArray()ReadSession::cell()

What you will learn

Choose a method based on output shape and memory behavior.
Know the correct empty check for each return type.
Avoid extra worksheet passes in large workflows.

Reading-method decision table#

Requirement	Recommended API	Returns	Memory profile	Empty check
Process a large worksheet row by row	`rows()`	`Generator`	Low / forward-only	Track whether the loop yielded or call `hasRows()` first.
Need every returned row as PHP data	`toArray()`	`array`	Rows retained in memory	`$rows === []`
Need only the first data row	`first()`	`?array`	Stops after first row	`$row === null`
Need only a yes/no data check	`hasRows()`	`bool`	Stops after first row	The returned Boolean is the check.
Need the final normalized row count	`countRows()`	`int`	Streams the selected rows	`$count === 0`
Need physical/empty/header/returned counts	`toStructuredSheetArray()`	`array`	Structured rows retained	`$result["rows"] === []`
Need one fixed XLSX coordinate	`cell("B2")`	`mixed`	Targeted lookup	Application-specific null/value check.
Need fewer columns	`selectColumns(...)` then a terminal method	`ReadSession` until terminal call	Lower normalization/application memory	Depends on the terminal method.

Three common choices#

foreach ($session->rows() as $row) {
    processRow($row);
}

$rows = $session->toArray();

if ($rows === []) {
    echo 'No data rows.';
}

$result = $sheet->toStructuredSheetArray([
    'header_row' => 1,
    'skip_empty_rows' => true,
    'row_format' => 'flat',
]);

$rows = $result['rows'];
$counts = $result['summary']['row_counts'];

Performance rule#

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