What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a cron job versus a real-time processing approach for handling file uploads in PHP?

Issue: When handling file uploads in PHP, developers often need to decide between using a cron job to periodically process uploads or implementing a real-time processing approach. Solution: Using a cron job to handle file uploads can help distribute server load and manage resources efficiently, while a real-time processing approach can provide immediate feedback to users and streamline the upload process. However, a cron job may introduce delays in processing uploads, while real-time processing can potentially overload the server with simultaneous uploads. Developers should consider the specific requirements of their application to determine the best approach. PHP Code Snippet: 

// Example of using a cron job to process file uploads periodically
// Add this script to a cron job that runs at regular intervals

$uploadsDirectory = '/path/to/uploads';
$processedDirectory = '/path/to/processed';

$files = scandir($uploadsDirectory);

foreach ($files as $file) {
    if ($file !== '.' && $file !== '..') {
        // Process the file
        // Move the processed file to a different directory
        rename($uploadsDirectory . '/' . $file, $processedDirectory . '/' . $file);
    }
}

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