How to Use Header for Redirect in PHP: Simple Guide

In PHP, you can redirect users to another page by using the header function with the Location header, like header('Location: target.php');. Make sure to call exit() right after to stop the script and avoid sending extra output.

Syntax

The header function sends a raw HTTP header to the browser. To redirect, use the Location header with the target URL.

• header('Location: URL'): Tells the browser to go to the URL.
• exit(): Stops the script to prevent further output.

php

header('Location: https://example.com');
exit();

Example

This example redirects the user to https://example.com immediately when the script runs.

php

<?php
// Redirect to example.com
header('Location: https://example.com');
exit();
?>

Output

The browser redirects to https://example.com immediately.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using header for redirect include:

• Sending any output (like HTML or echo) before calling header. This causes an error because headers must be sent first.
• Not calling exit() after header, which can lead to unwanted code running.
• Using relative URLs incorrectly or forgetting the full path.

php

<?php
// Wrong way: output before header
// echo 'Redirecting...';
// header('Location: https://example.com');
// exit();

// Right way:
header('Location: https://example.com');
exit();

Quick Reference

Action	Code Example	Notes
Redirect to URL	header('Location: https://example.com');	Must be called before any output
Stop script after redirect	exit();	Prevents further code execution
Relative URL redirect	header('Location: /page.php');	Works if URL is correct
Check for output before header	Use output buffering or no output	Avoids header errors

Key Takeaways

Always call header('Location: URL') before any output to redirect in PHP.

Use exit() immediately after header() to stop script execution.

Never send any output (echo, HTML) before calling header().

Use full URLs or correct relative paths in the Location header.

Check for errors about headers already sent to fix output issues.