Download file script in PHP

5 Comments / Web Development / By wavesdream

Some times we need to create a download link of any file in our site. We can point a direct link of the file to download but in this case we can get the absolute path of that file which is not preferred to us. Moreover some browsers redirect the download link path in a new window.

Hence we can create a separate PHP script through which we can download any file and there will be no possibility to access the absolute path of the file and no redirection to the other page. We can get the save file pop window in the same window.
Step 1: Create a PHP file named download.php and put the following codes in it.

	<?php
	$filename = $_GET['filename'];
	// Modify this line to indicate the location of the files you want people to be able to download
	// This path must not contain a trailing slash. ie. /temp/files/download
	$download_path = "";
	// Make sure we can't download files above the current directory location.
	if(eregi("..", $filename)) die("I'm sorry, you may not download that file.");
	$file = str_replace("..", "", $filename);
	// Make sure we can't download .ht control files.
	if(eregi(".ht.+", $filename)) die("I'm sorry, you may not download that file.");
	// Combine the download path and the filename to create the full path to the file.
	$file = "$download_path$file";
	// Test to ensure that the file exists.
	if(!file_exists($file)) die("I'm sorry, the file doesn't seem to exist.");
	// Extract the type of file which will be sent to the browser as a header
	$type = filetype($file);
	// Get a date and timestamp
	$today = date("F j, Y, g:i a");
	$time = time();
	// Send file headers
	header("Content-type: $type");
	header("Content-Disposition: attachment;filename=$filename");
	header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary");
	header('Pragma: no-cache');
	header('Expires: 0');
	// Send the file contents.
	set_time_limit(0);
	readfile($file);
	?>

view raw download.php hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Step 2: Now wherever you want to put the download file link, put the following code:

 <a href="download.php?filename=yourfilename.zip">Click here to Download the File</a>

5 thoughts on “Download file script in PHP”

EKG Interpretation
November 16, 2011 at 3:42 pm

Thank you for publishing this for free. It works like a charm, and I am no programmer.

Reply
nahid
July 18, 2012 at 6:11 pm

this works fine!!!!!
very simple

Reply
Will Knot B. Revealed Snr.
January 28, 2013 at 3:42 am

:/ Needs updating for PHP 5

“Function eregi() is deprecated”

Reply
Sanjay Bhowmick
February 17, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Use “preg_match” function instead. Check if this works or not.
if (preg_match(“..”,$filename)) die(“I’m sorry, you may not download that file.”);

Reply
1. Will Knot B. Revealed Snr.
  June 4, 2013 at 1:10 pm
  
  That works perfectly now. Thank you Sanjay 🙂
  
  Reply

Download file script in PHP

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