Should I Call exit() After Using header() for Redirection in PHP?

Calling exit() after Location: header in PHP

The question arises whether to call exit() or not after invoking the Location: header function in PHP. This functionality is important for redirecting users to a specified URL.

Consider the following code snippet from fileA:

$urlFailToGoTo = '/formerror.php';

if (sth) {
    header(sprintf("Location: %s", $urlFailToGoTo));
    exit(); // Should I call exit() here? or return?
}

The code executes a conditional statement that redirects the user to $urlFailToGoTo if a certain condition is met. The header function is used to send an HTTP header to the client's browser, informing it of the new location to navigate to. However, calling header() alone does not terminate the script execution.

It is crucial to follow the header() call with an exit() function, as it immediately halts the script's execution and prevents any further code from being executed. This ensures that the header, and therefore the redirect, is sent to the client without interference from subsequent code. Neglecting to call exit() may result in additional PHP code being executed, potentially interfering with or overriding the redirect.

Therefore, it is recommended to explicitly call exit() after using header() to redirect users. This practice ensures that the script terminates after the redirect, preventing unforeseen consequences and maintaining control over the user's browsing experience.

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