file download counter without database

Question

I am a beginer in programming. i have a pdf file for download in my website. I want to know the no. of downloads. I searched in google.

and i tried something like this.

Answer 1

Well instead of a database you will have to keep a file with count

in the php file that downloads the pdf:

$downCount = intval( file_get_contents("/some/path/downloadCount") );
$downCount++;
file_put_contents("/some/path/downloadCount",$downCount);

Answer 2

PHP can't do it alone. It would need either a database, or an empty file to save to of some sort.

The best way is to use a database. Its probably the most easiest way as well. However I'd highly recommend getting in some database experience if you want to use PHP. Although database design / usage is very different to PHP, its very useful to know

Answer 3

if you are not familiar with database, try something like this

http://www.kavoir.com/2010/05/simplest-php-hit-counter-or-download-counter-count-the-number-of-times-of-access-visits-or-downloads.html

it may help you

Answer 4

You could use the atime (access time) of the file as a counter aswell.