How to Efficiently Transfer PDF Files to Users Using a PHP Script?

Efficient PDF File Transfer to Users via PHP Script

When users request a specific PDF file from a PHP script, it's crucial to deliver it effectively. To accomplish this, consider employing the readfile() function, which allows you to seamlessly output the file to the requesting user.

How to Send Files Using readfile()

To utilize readfile() successfully, follow these steps:

1. Set Appropriate Headers

It's essential to define headers to ensure the file is handled correctly by the client's browser. Without proper headers, the client may experience issues downloading or opening the file.

2. Example Code

The following code snippet demonstrates how to use readfile() to send a PDF file:

<?php
$file = 'myfile.pdf'; // Replace with the file path

if (file_exists($file)) {
    header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
    header('Content-Type: application/pdf');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.basename($file));
    header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');
    header('Expires: 0');
    header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0');
    header('Pragma: public');
    header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
    ob_clean();
    flush();
    readfile($file);
    exit;
}
?>

This code defines appropriate headers to enable file transfer and ensures that the file is downloaded as an attachment.

By following these steps, you can effectively send PDF files to users using a PHP script, allowing them to access the desired documents seamlessly and efficiently.

The above is the detailed content of How to Efficiently Transfer PDF Files to Users Using a PHP Script?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!