What are the best practices for handling file downloads in PHP to prevent interruptions?

When handling file downloads in PHP, it is important to set appropriate headers to prevent interruptions during the download process. This includes setting the correct content type, content length, and content disposition headers. Additionally, using output buffering can help ensure a smooth and uninterrupted download experience for users. 

<?php

// Set headers for file download
header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($filePath));
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . basename($filePath) . '"');

// Use output buffering to prevent interruptions
ob_clean();
flush();

// Output the file contents
readfile($filePath);

exit;

Keywords

file downloads PHP interruptions error handling headers

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