site counter, finding out how the user got to site. url history?[php]

Paul_Ferrie

Hi guys,
Is it possible to determin how a user got to your site.

At present i have links on serveral web projects that i have worked on. If a user clicks on the link it is then saved to my db upon visit to the site.

I would like to be able to find out if they came via a search engine or from a site that does not have my referel id on it. Is this possible with php?

I think it might be possible with using the I.E page history but have no idea how to implement it.

Cheers
Paul

edcellgavin

try using the super global variable $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'].
better yet, check this outvariables

Paul_Ferrie

I was told on another forum that it was not 100% reliable.

Cheers

Installer

I think it might be possible with using the I.E page history...

Not. I don't think you'd like the people at every website you visit to read your browser history, and I'm sure most visitors to your site would feel the same.

As edcellgavin said, try $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']. Sometimes it will contain accurate referrer information, sometimes it will contain bogus information, and sometimes it will be empty. The best you can do with it is get a general idea over time of where your visitors are coming from.

Paul_Ferrie

A general ideas is better than no idea, will look into it later.

Thanks guys

Paul