Is there a recommended way to handle file downloads in PHP to ensure the downloaded files are intact and usable?

When handling file downloads in PHP, it is essential to ensure that the downloaded files are intact and usable. One recommended way to achieve this is by using the `readfile()` function in combination with setting appropriate headers to indicate the file type and size. This method ensures that the file is downloaded correctly without any corruption or loss of data. 

$file = 'path/to/your/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));
    
    readfile($file);
    exit;
} else {
    echo 'File not found.';
}

Keywords

file downloads PHP integrity handling usability

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