Why Does AJAX Display File Contents Instead of Downloading Them, and How Can I Fix It?

File Download via AJAX: Addressing the Issue

When attempting to download a file through an AJAX call, one may encounter an issue where the file contents are displayed within the page instead of being prompted for download. Let's delve into the core of the problem and explore a solution.

AJAX Limitations: AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) technology is primarily designed for exchanging data with a server without reloading the entire page. It's not inherently suitable for file downloads.

Solution: Manual Redirection To facilitate file downloads through AJAX, a different approach is required. Instead of relying solely on AJAX, you can use the following strategy:

1. Create a New Window: On your button click event, instead of calling an AJAX function, open a new browser window using window.open and set its address to the download link. This will trigger the file download prompt.
2. Direct Page Redirection: Another option is to modify the button click event to directly redirect the browser to the download link using document.location = downloadLink. This approach also initiates the download process.

Code Snippets:

Using a New Window:

function downloadCSV() {
  window.open('path/to/csv.php?download'); // Replace 'path/to/csv.php' with the actual URL
}

Using Direct Page Redirection:

function downloadCSV() {
  document.location = 'path/to/csv.php?download';
}

Note: Remember to create a designated PHP script ('csv.php') with the appropriate headers and file read code to facilitate the file download.

By implementing these techniques, you can seamlessly download files through AJAX by circumventing its limitations and leveraging manual redirection methods.

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