Why Doesn't HTTPURLConnection Follow HTTP to HTTPS Redirects?

HTTPURLConnection Does Not Follow HTTP to HTTPS Redirection

In certain scenarios, developers encounter an unexpected behavior where Java's HTTPURLConnection fails to follow an HTTP redirect to an HTTPS URL.

Reason for the Issue

The root cause of this behavior lies in the design of HTTPURLConnection. By default, redirects are only followed if they maintain the same protocol. This means that a redirect from HTTP to HTTPS is not automatically handled by the class.

Security Implications

This restriction is enforced due to security concerns. HTTPS, despite its resemblance to HTTP, is technically considered a distinct protocol from an HTTP perspective. Following HTTPS redirects without user approval raises safety issues, particularly in scenarios where client authentication is automatically configured for HTTP but not HTTPS.

Solution

Unfortunately, there is no option to disable this check, and thus, HTTPURLConnection cannot be made to follow an HTTP to HTTPS redirect.

Workarounds

To work around this limitation, developers can manually follow the redirect by parsing the Location header in the HTTP response and initiating a new request to the HTTPS URL. Alternatively, they can utilize libraries or frameworks that support both HTTP and HTTPS redirects.

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