What are the factors that determine the success of file downloads in PHP based on browser settings?

The success of file downloads in PHP can be affected by various factors such as browser settings, server configurations, and file types. To ensure successful file downloads, it is important to set the appropriate headers in PHP to prompt the browser to handle the file correctly. This includes setting the Content-Type, Content-Disposition, and Content-Length headers to ensure proper handling and download of the file. 

<?php
$file = 'example.pdf'; // Path to the file to be downloaded

if (file_exists($file)) {
    header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
    header('Content-Type: application/pdf'); // Set the appropriate Content-Type based on the file type
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=' . basename($file)); // Prompt download as an attachment
    header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file)); // Set the Content-Length header

    readfile($file); // Output the file
    exit;
} else {
    echo 'File not found.';
}
?>

Keywords

file downloads PHP browser settings success factors error types

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