download file via mod_xsendfile

download.php

<?php
$file = 'monkey.gif';
 
if (file_exists($file)) {
    
    //show the download dialog to the browser
    header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.$file);
    
    //send away and exit the script, Apache will handle the outputting of file contents
    header('X-Sendfile: /home/darwin/'.$file);
    exit;
}
?>