PHP enables you to download the file easily using a built-in readfile() function. The readfile() function reads a file and writes it to the output buffer.

PHP readfile() function

Syntax

int readfile ( string $filename [, bool $use_include_path = false [, resource $context ]] )  

• $filename: represents the file name
• $use_include_path: it is the optional parameter. It is by default false. You can set it to true to the search the file in the included_path.
• $context: represents the context stream resource.
• int: it returns the number of bytes read from the file.

PHP Download File Example: Text File

File Name: download_file.php

<?php  
$file_url = "http://www.easytolearning.com/file.txt";  
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");  
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: utf-8");   
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename="" . basename($file_url) . """);   
readfile($file_url);  
?>  

PHP Download File Example: Binary File

File Name: download_file1.php

<?php  
$file_url = "http://www.myremoteserver.com/file.exe";  
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");  
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: Binary");   
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename="" . basename($file_url) . """);   
readfile($file_url);  
?>