hook_file_download is called every time a private file is requested. Avoid heavy database queries or external API calls inside this hook to prevent slow page loads or broken image rendering.
If all modules return NULL , and no one grants access, Drupal defaults to access denied. The Example: Restricting Downloads by User Role
Ensure your private file path is configured at /admin/config/media/file-system and that the actual folder on the server is located outside your web root for maximum security. hook_file_download drupal 8 example
You must return an array of headers to grant access. At a minimum, include Content-Type . Use Content-Disposition: inline if you want the file to open in the browser, or attachment to force a download.
Let’s say we want to ensure that only users with the "Premium Member" role can download PDF files stored in the private directory. 1. Create your Module hook_file_download is called every time a private file
Check if another module is returning -1 earlier in the execution order, which would override your "allow" logic.
Before jumping into the code, it’s important to understand the "Private" file system. This hook triggers for files stored in the private:// URI scheme. Files in the public:// folder are served directly by the web server (Apache or Nginx), bypassing Drupal’s PHP layer entirely for performance reasons. The Example: Restricting Downloads by User Role Ensure
First, ensure you have a custom module. We'll call ours my_file_security . my_file_security.info.yml
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