PHP file download for dynamic data
Send a file download with PHP
A download response needs appropriate headers followed by the file content. Resolve the file from a controlled server-side location rather than accepting an unrestricted path from the URL.
$file = __DIR__ . '/downloads/report.csv';
if (is_file($file)) {
header('Content-Type: text/csv; charset=UTF-8');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="report.csv"');
header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
readfile($file);
exit;
}This example shows the recommended starting pattern. Continue below for variations, explanation and the original practical examples.
<?php
header("Content-type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"my-data.csv\"");
$data="col1, col start and end col2,col3, \n";
$data .= "seond linedata here from site to download col1";
echo $data;
?>Here by using the header option we will tell the browser that the file format is different then what it opens. We can set a default file name for the file also. Here is the code to do this. Note that in the second line we are specifying the default file name. In the third and fourth line we are storing the data and sending it to the client machine through the file download.
Note: Don't keep any html code or any other data before the header is sent to the browser, if any data goes then we will get warning message
Above code will display a window in visitor browser asking to save file in local computer or open by suitable application.
Example: Secure File Download
session_start();
if (!isset($_SESSION['user'])) {
die("Unauthorized access!");
}
$file = 'path/to/file.zip';
if (file_exists($file)) {
header('Content-Type: application/zip');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="'.basename($file).'"');
header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
readfile($file);
exit;
}
Example: Handling Large Files with Chunking
$file = 'large-file.zip';
$chunk_size = 8192; // 8KB chunks
$handle = fopen($file, 'rb');
while (!feof($handle)) {
echo fread($handle, $chunk_size);
flush(); // Send the data immediately
}
fclose($handle);
Read how records of a database table is downloaded as .csv file to local computer
File Deleting File Checking if file exists before deleting
PHP
Subhendu Mohapatra
Author & Instructor at plus2net
I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.
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| Ramesh | 28-08-2009 |
| Excellent tutorial....thanks a lot. | |
| mukesh | 16-03-2010 |
| how can i store .csv data in listbox by using php | |
| kapil agrawal | 21-03-2010 |
| good tutorials exciting to learn | |
| raymond | 27-12-2010 |
| please php script to display doc. file not image e g microsft word | |
| Moe | 08-01-2011 |
| Hello, The code below works on my localhost to download a file. However, on top of my downloaded file there are 160 lines of HTML tags. How can I eliminate these tags and just get the plain file? I appreciate your advice. $fd = basename($csv); header("Content-type: application/octet-stream"); header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="".$fd."""); header("Content-Description: Download"); readfile($csv); | |
| pappu chauhan | 16-11-2012 |
| how to create download from server exact code. and how to create file read, file write, file append exact code. | |
