Permission issues viewing photos uploaded with php - php

Question

I'm following a tutorial for uploading image files using php on udemy. I can choose an image and upload it to a folder without any problems.
When I click on the image after it has been uploaded to the folder, windows photo viewer says: "photo.png It appears that you don't have permission to view this file. Check the permissions and try again".
When I checked permissions it said "You must have read permissions to view the properties of this file".
I used the chmod function set to 0755, which allows the owner to read and write, and lets everyone else read it. I tried changing the chmod codes but it didn't help.
I'm thinking it has something to do with my server permissions, but can't find any solution on google. My images are uploaded to Abyss Web Server.
Here is the code:
<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);
function upload_file() {
//setup
$tmp_name = $_FILES['file']['tmp_name'];
$target_dir = 'uploads/';
$target_file = $target_dir . basename($_FILES['file']['name']);
$max_file_size = 5000000; //5mb
$allowed_file_types = array('application/pdf; charset=binary');
$allowed_image_types = array(IMAGETYPE_GIF, IMAGETYPE_JPEG, IMAGETYPE_PNG);
//check if image type is allowed
$image_check = getimagesize($tmp_name);
if(! in_array($image_check[2], $allowed_image_types)) {
//if not allowed image check if allowed file type
exec('file -bi' . $tmp_name, $file_check);
if(! in_array($file_check[0], $allowed_file_types)) {
return 'This file type is not allowed';
}
}
//check if file already exists
if(file_exists($target_file)) {
return 'Sorry that file already exists';
}
//check file size
if(file_exists($target_file)) {
return 'Sorry this file is too big';
}
//store the file
if(move_uploaded_file($tmp_name, $target_file)) {
chmod($target_file, 0644);
return 'Your file was uploaded';
}
else {
return 'There was a problem storing your file. Try again?';
}
}
if(! empty($_FILES)) {
echo upload_file();
}
?>
<form action="" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
Select image to upload:
<input type="file" name="file">
<input type="submit" Value="upload">
</form>

Answer 1

Since loading the file using a custom made HTML page specifically for testing motives does show the image correctly, then it's most likely a hotlink protection issue. (This was found out after a few comments to the question).
In cPanel, for example, there is a tool to manage this feature and it revolves around the usage of a file called .htaccess. This file is used for a lot of things in the web development world.
Some people don't like their copyrighted images to be accessed, so one way to avoid inexperienced people (let's say, "people in userland") from doing that is to enable this protection. This works for any given file extension that you set it up to.
One way to address this issue is to go to cPanel and disable (or modify accordingly) the Hotlink Protection feature. Another way, is to find the .htaccess file that is causing the issue, which requires understanding the way it works and the syntax it uses.