How important is it to consider server and network traffic when implementing a file download and forwarding functionality in PHP?

It is crucial to consider server and network traffic when implementing file download and forwarding functionality in PHP to ensure optimal performance and prevent overload. One way to address this is by using efficient file streaming techniques to minimize server load and reduce network congestion.

<?php
$file = 'path/to/file.pdf';

if (file_exists($file)) {
    header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
    header('Content-Type: application/pdf');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=' . basename($file));
    header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
    header('Expires: 0');
    header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate');
    header('Pragma: public');
    
    readfile($file);
    exit;
} else {
    echo 'File not found.';
}
?>