PHP request "in background"

Question

Is there a way to make PHP request where user doesn't have to wait for response? Some sort of "php request in background"?

For example, if application needs to send 100 emails because the user had submitted something, I don't want to show "sending... please wait" for this user, but I want some other script to do the job independent from that user...

Answer 1

Options:

1. Stick in a db (or a file) and use a cron to poll it (easiest as you probably already use a db).
2. Use something like RabbitMQ or ØMQ (my favourite)
3. Spawn a separate process to do it using fork/exec (would not recommend that).
4. As others have suggested - fake it by using an Ajax request. Viable - but I find it ugly.