Display Image From File In PHP (Simple Examples)

Welcome to a tutorial on how to display an image from a file in PHP. So you have a secured folder of images that is not publicly accessible, but still want registered users to be able to view? Yes, it is possible to do so.

That should cover the basics, but read on for a few more examples!

 

 

TLDR – QUICK SLIDES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

EXAMPLE 1) READ FILE AND OUTPUT

<?php
// (A) GET IMAGE INFO
$file = __DIR__ . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "cabbage-girl.jpg";
$fileData = exif_read_data($file);
 
// (B) READ & OUTPUT IMAGE
ob_start();
header("Content-Type: " . $fileData["MimeType"]);
header("Content-Length: " . $fileData["FileSize"]);
readfile($file);
ob_end_flush();

Yep, that’s how simple it is.

• (A) Read the EXIF information from the image file.
• (B) Output the appropriate HTTP headers, the bare minimum is Content-Type, and Content-Length is kind of optional. But since some browsers can get naggy about the length, it is better to just include it.
• (B) Lastly, just use readfile() to read and output the image file itself.
• (B) To ensure that the image data is “safely and completely” delivered, we use output buffering – ob_start() and ob_end_flush(). Will leave links below if you want to follow up on output buffers.

That’s all. Accessing this script in the browser will show the image, or we can point an image tag to this PHP script:

<img src="1a-output-img.php">

 

 

EXAMPLE 2) BASE 64 ENCODED IMAGE

<?php
// (A) READ IMAGE INFO
$file = __DIR__ . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "cabbage-girl.jpg";
$fileData = exif_read_data($file);
$fileEncode = base64_encode(file_get_contents($file));

// (B) BASE 64 ENCODED IMAGE
echo "<img src=\"data:${fileData["MimeType"]};base64,${fileEncode}\">";
?>

This is an alternative to reading an image file and outputting it with PHP – Yes, we can read an image file, base 64 encode it, and “directly embed” it into an <img> tag.

 

 

 

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EXAMPLE CODE DOWNLOAD

Click here for the source code on GitHub gist, just click on “download zip” or do a git clone. I have released it under the MIT license, so feel free to build on top of it or use it in your own project.

 

 

 

LINKS & REFERENCES

• Image headers with PHP – The Electric Toolbox Blog
• Base64 Encode – PHP
• Output Buffering – Code Boxx

 

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