What role do HTTP headers play in ensuring the proper download and forwarding of files in PHP scripts?

HTTP headers play a crucial role in ensuring the proper download and forwarding of files in PHP scripts. By setting the appropriate headers, we can specify the content type of the file being downloaded, as well as other important information such as the file size and attachment disposition. This ensures that the file is handled correctly by the browser and downloaded without any issues.

<?php
// Set the appropriate headers for downloading a file
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"example.txt\"");
header("Content-Length: " . filesize("example.txt"));

// Output the file contents
readfile("example.txt");