How can form handling and variable passing be optimized for file export functionality in PHP?

When handling form submissions for file export functionality in PHP, it is important to optimize the passing of variables to ensure smooth processing and accurate data export. One way to do this is by using POST method to submit form data securely and avoiding passing sensitive information through URL parameters. Additionally, using server-side validation to sanitize and validate user input before processing the export can help prevent errors and ensure data integrity.

<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    // Validate and sanitize form input
    $filename = isset($_POST['filename']) ? htmlspecialchars($_POST['filename']) : 'exported_data';
    
    // Process data export
    // Your export functionality code here
    
    // Set appropriate headers for file download
    header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . $filename . '.csv"');
    
    // Output file contents
    echo "Your file content here";
    exit;
}
?>