How to Disable Output Buffering in PHP for Real-time Data Streaming?

Disabling Output Buffering in PHP

The Issue

PHP's default behavior involves buffering output, leading to a delay in real-time data display for applications that stream data, such as web camera feeds. This article explores methods to disable output buffering to ensure smooth data flow.

Disabling Output Buffering

Userspace Output Buffer

PHP's userspace output buffer can be disabled globally by:

• Setting output_buffering to Off in php.ini.
• Adding php_flag "output_buffering" Off to the Apache configuration.

For individual scripts, disable output buffering with ob_end_clean() or ob_end_flush.

Server-Level Output Buffer

Additionally, disable the server-level output buffer by:

• Calling ob_implicit_flush() at script startup.
• Using flush() after each output statement.

Recommended Approach

To achieve optimal output delivery, it is recommended to disable both the userspace and server-level output buffers. By following the steps outlined above, real-time data streams can be displayed without the buffering delay.

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