How can PHP headers be utilized to redirect to a file for download while tracking the download count?

To redirect to a file for download while tracking the download count using PHP headers, you can first increment a counter variable in your database when the download link is clicked, then use the header() function to force the browser to download the file. By setting the appropriate headers, you can track the download count and initiate the file download at the same time. 

// Increment download count in database
// Example code to update download count in database
$download_count = 1; // Initial download count
$download_count++; // Increment download count
// Update database with new download count

// Set headers to force download and track download count
$file = 'path/to/your/file.pdf'; // Path to the file to be downloaded
header("Content-Description: File Transfer");
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=" . basename($file));
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary");
header("Expires: 0");
header("Cache-Control: must-revalidate");
header("Pragma: public");
header("Content-Length: " . filesize($file));

readfile($file); // Output the file for download
exit;

Keywords

PHP headers file download redirect tracking download count

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