Custom HTTP Headers During Redirects

When redirecting to another page in PHP, it may be necessary to include custom HTTP headers as part of the redirect process. The standard header("Location: http://...") directive does not provide a method for setting custom headers.

Addressing the Issue

Despite claims to the contrary, setting custom HTTP headers along with a redirect is not possible in PHP or any other language. The reason for this stems from the nature of HTTP redirects. When a redirect occurs, the client (browser) executes the redirect based on the "Location" header provided by the server. Custom HTTP headers are part of the response to the redirect request, which is sent after the browser has already initiated the redirect.

Alternative Approaches

Since setting custom HTTP headers during redirects is not feasible, alternative approaches are necessary. One option is to use JavaScript and the XMLHttpRequest object to make an asynchronous request to the target page with the desired custom headers. This requires CORS implementation on the target server to allow such requests.

Another option is to utilize server-side code to directly interact with the target page without a redirect. This approach involves making an HTTP request to the target page, setting the custom HTTP headers, and retrieving the response data. The response can then be returned to the client in a custom format.