Redirection

mihkel100

How is the best way to redirect. I know two ways to redirect but they aren't perfect.

/* can't use when something is printed before the redirection */
header('Location: page.php');

// very slow
echo '<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0;URL=page.php" />';

TheDefender

I have found that it's pretty much based on your specific needs... I haven't ever written a code requiring a redirect in which the header() function didn't work. I know you have to do it before headers are sent to the browser, but I write my code around that, and it has worked for me so far.

drawmack

header is better, you just have to watch you're printing so you don't print before the redirect.

elementaluk

I would probably say header works better than a meta refresh as not all browsers support meta redirects.

Guess you could make a redirect page with a meta refresh saying "if you are not redirected click here" or something along those lines.

elementaluk

in the 2 minutes it takes to write a post 2 of you's got in there first.

...i've seriously gotta write these a bit faster

mihkel100

So, there is no other way?

drawmack

well there's javascript, but that's not any better then a meta refresh

mihkel100

But if I include this function at the top of every page

function redirect($address){
       header('Location: '.$address);
}

can I use redirection everywhere even when headers are already sent out?

redirect('page.php');

mihkel100

Originally posted by mihkel100
But if I include this function at the top of every page
function redirect($address){
       header('Location: '.$address);
}
can I use redirection everywhere even when headers are already sent out?
redirect('page.php');
[/B]

I just got a chance to test this script. Unfortunately, it didn't work :queasy:

But how can I collect headers and send them if everything else is done? I know that some servers are configured to do that.

TheDefender

function redirect($address){ 
       header("Location: $address"); 
}

should do it...

PHP is parsed before any output is sent to the browser... Remember, it's server-side. Therefore, you can't collect and send headers after any output is sent to the browser... Once the output is sent to the browser, that's it.

You have to carefully plan, design and implement code that ensures all headers are sent before browser output. It's a limitation within PHP more-so, than with the server itself.