# CodeIgniter User Guide Version 1.7.1

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# Download Helper

The Download Helper lets you download data to your desktop.

## Loading this Helper

This helper is loaded using the following code:

`$this->load->helper('download');`

The following functions are available:

## force_download('filename', 'data')

Generates server headers which force data to be downloaded to your desktop. Useful with file downloads. The first parameter is the name you want the downloaded file to be named, the second parameter is the file data. Example:

`$data = 'Here is some text!';
$name = 'mytext.txt';
force_download($name, $data);`

If you want to download an existing file from your server you'll need to read the file into a string:

`$data = file_get_contents("/path/to/photo.jpg"); // Read the file's contents
$name = 'myphoto.jpg';
force_download($name, $data);`