This is probably a super simple question to answer, but I've yet to find an answer to it by searching. How can I provide a link to have a file download? For example, if I had a document on my webpage, and someone wanted a copy of it, they would click on the link and it would download. How difficult is that to implement? Thanks!
Videos
In modern browsers that support HTML5, the following is possible:
<a href="link/to/your/download/file" download>Download link</a>
You also can use this:
<a href="link/to/your/download/file" download="filename">Download link</a>
This will allow you to change the name of the file actually being downloaded.
This answer is outdated. We now have the
downloadattribute. (see also this link to MDN)
If by "the download link" you mean a link to a file to download, use
<a href="http://example.com/files/myfile.pdf" target="_blank">Download</a>
the target=_blank will make a new browser window appear before the download starts. That window will usually be closed when the browser discovers that the resource is a file download.
Note that file types known to the browser (e.g. JPG or GIF images) will usually be opened within the browser.
You can try sending the right headers to force a download like outlined e.g. here. (server side scripting or access to the server settings is required for that.)