header('Content-Type: - Explained 2

[k4ghg]

Could someone please tell me the difference between the two statements below. I want users to download a file after they select a download button without going through additional steps. Thanks...

header('Content-Type: application/force-download');
header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');

 

[feherke]

Hi

For now this is not really a PHP question.

Regarding the registered MIME types ( for example application/octet-stream ), see MIME Media Types on IANA's site.

Regarding the unregistered MIME types ( for example application/force-download ), there is no official documentation.

application/force-download is similar to application/k4ghg-says-download-me : both are unregistered, incorrect and valid.

Some people used to include multiple [tt]Content-type[/tt] headers. That is useless, only one ( usually the last specified ) will be sent to the browser.

I want users to download a file after they select a download button without going through additional steps.

Do not want. It is not your machine, so there will happen what the visitor wants. And if he/she configured the browser to do something specific with the files of the given type, you can do nothing against it.

You can however send out unregistered or even invalid MIME type in the [tt]Content-type[/tt] header, hoping the visitor's browser will not know it.

Feherke.

http://free.rootshell.be/~feherke/