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PHP Redirection Tutorial: How to Implement Web Page Redirection and URL Redirect with PHP

gitbox 2025-06-12

1. Introduction

When we visit a webpage, sometimes we notice that the page automatically redirects to another URL. This is the effect of redirection. In simple terms, redirection allows users to enter another webpage instead of the current one when they visit a webpage, achieving functions like page jumps, URL redirection, etc.

This article focuses on PHP redirection operations and will guide you on how to implement web page redirection using PHP.

2. What is PHP Redirection?

PHP redirection, also known as HTTP redirection, is a technique where PHP script code causes the browser to redirect the current page to another new page, achieving a webpage jump or URL redirection effect.

Simply put, redirection is an application of the HTTP protocol. When the browser requests a page from the server, the server can respond with a new URL, forcing the browser to jump to the target page, thus achieving the URL redirection effect.

3. Methods to Implement PHP Redirection

3.1 HTTP Redirection

HTTP redirection is a way of redirection that works through the HTTP protocol. When the browser receives an HTTP response status code 302, it will automatically jump to the specified URL.

Here is a simple PHP code example that demonstrates HTTP redirection:


<?php 
header('Location: http://www.example.com/');
exit;
?>

In this code, the `header()` function is used to set the HTTP response header and send a 302 status code, instructing the browser to redirect to the specified URL. Be sure not to output anything before calling `header()`, as this will cause the redirection to fail.

3.2 Meta Tag Redirection

Meta tag redirection is a method of setting a `` tag in the head of an HTML page so that the browser automatically redirects to another target URL when the page is loaded.

Here is a PHP code example for redirection using a Meta tag:


<?php 
header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8');
header('Refresh: 3; url=http://www.example.com/');
echo 'You will be redirected to example.com in 3 seconds';
exit;
?>

In this code, we set the `Content-Type` to `text/html`, then use the `Refresh` header to trigger a 3-second delay before redirecting. During this time, the user will see a message indicating the redirection.

It's important to make sure the `Content-Type` is set correctly to avoid issues when using Meta tags for redirection.

3.3 JavaScript Redirection

JavaScript redirection is a method that uses JavaScript code to automatically redirect the page when the webpage is loaded.

Here is a PHP code example for redirection using JavaScript:


<?php 
echo '<script type="text/javascript">window.location.href="http://www.example.com/";</script>';
exit;
?>

This code uses `echo` to output a JavaScript script, which triggers an automatic redirect to the specified URL when the page is loaded. JavaScript redirection works similarly to HTTP redirection, without carrying any GET or POST parameters, simply redirecting to the target page.

4. Conclusion

Through this article, you should now understand the three common methods of redirection in PHP: HTTP redirection, Meta tag redirection, and JavaScript redirection. These methods can be applied in different scenarios, allowing you to choose the best solution for your project.

When using redirection, especially HTTP redirection and Meta tag jumps, make sure to consider the impact on SEO and avoid excessive use of redirects to ensure the best structure and user experience for your website.

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