Download File Using jQuery

How can I prompt a download for a user when they click a link.

For example, instead of:

<a href="uploads/file.doc">Download Here</a>

I could use:

<a href="#">Download Here</a>

 $('a').click... //Some jquery to download the file

This way, Google does not index my HREF's and private files.

Can this be done with jQuery, if so, how? Or should this be done with PHP or something instead?

Solution 1:

I might suggest this, as a more gracefully degrading solution, using preventDefault:

$('a').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();  //stop the browser from following
    window.location.href = 'uploads/file.doc';
});

<a href="no-script.html">Download now!</a>

Even if there's no Javascript, at least this way the user will get some feedback.

Solution 2:

If you don't want search engines to index certain files, you can use robots.txt to tell web spiders not to access certain parts of your website.

If you rely only on javascript, then some users who browse without it won't be able to click your links.