How to Delete File After Download in Laravel 11

In Laravel 11, deleting a file after it has been downloaded is a common requirement, especially when dealing with temporary files or sensitive data that should not persist on the server. Laravel provides a straightforward way to achieve this by using the Response class along with the deleteFileAfterSend method. Let’s explore the steps to accomplish this:

1. Downloading the File: First, you need to set up a route or a controller method that handles the file download. This could be a route pointing to a controller method responsible for serving the file.
2. Sending the File as a Response: In your controller method or route closure, use the response()->download() method to send the file as a response to the user’s request. This method allows you to specify the path to the file you want to download.

   use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Response;

   public function downloadFile()
   {
       $filePath = storage_path('app/file_to_download.txt');

       return Response::download($filePath)->deleteFileAfterSend(true);
   }

The deleteFileAfterSend(true) method call will ensure that the file is deleted after it has been successfully downloaded by the user.

3. File Deletion: Once the file has been successfully downloaded by the user, Laravel automatically deletes the file specified in the response after sending it. This ensures that the file is removed from the server, preventing unnecessary storage usage and potential security risks.
4. Handling Error Scenarios: It’s also essential to handle scenarios where the file might not be downloaded successfully. In such cases, you can implement error handling to log any issues and take appropriate actions, such as retrying the download or notifying the user.

By following these steps, you can effectively delete a file after it has been downloaded in Laravel 11. This approach ensures that your application maintains clean storage and enhances security by removing sensitive files promptly.