Bandwidth usage when working with file()

[pkipper]

Just a question regarding to using file() and file handling in general.

Just say that I have a data file that is used to store inputs from a user, and lets say the file is 250kb in size, does it mean it will chew up 250kb of my server's bandwidth each time I read it using file()?

How about for fwrite() and some other file handling functions?

[devinemke]

bandwidth? not really the right word in the case. a 250kb file will use approximately that amount of server memory.

[pkipper]

Thanks devinemke, I was a bit confused. I keep on having the idea if the files are being processed on the server, then its chewing up the server's bandwidth, but i just remembered that bandwidth is the actual stuff that is sent to the browser.

Just another question, how about image manipulation, like using GD library, resize a picture and store the new picture on the server. Since nothing is being sent to the user's browser, it is just using up the server's memory, correct?

[devinemke]

Originally posted by pkipper
...how about image manipulation, like using GD library, resize a picture and store the new picture on the server. Since nothing is being sent to the user's browser, it is just using up the server's memory, correct?

yes, bandwidth deals with how much traffic (requests/responses) the server is doing. resizing a image on the server does not eat up any bandwidth.

[pkipper]

Thanks again devinemke 🙂 Cheers!