After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination.
Before using it, identify which data, connection or runtime state the operation reads or changes. This avoids examples that appear to work but apply to a different context.
How Does This Work?
After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination.
Syntax:
See the complete steps in the practical examples below.
Parameters and Return Value
This is an application workflow rather than one built-in function. Its inputs are request fields, configuration and application state described in each example.
The operation produces an HTTP response or updates application state as shown in the examples.
Example 1: Basic Usage
<?php
$requestedNext = $_GET["next"] ?? "/dashboard";
$allowlistedPaths = ["/dashboard", "/account", "/settings"];
$nextPath = in_array($requestedNext, $allowlistedPaths, true) ? $requestedNext : "/dashboard";
header("Location: " . $nextPath, true, 303);After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination.
Example 2: Another Case
<?php
$redirectKey = $_POST["return_to"] ?? "home";
$targetRoutes = ["home" => "/dashboard", "orders" => "/orders"];
$targetPath = $targetRoutes[$redirectKey] ?? "/dashboard";
header("Location: " . $targetPath, true, 303);The second example changes the input or surrounding conditions, which matters when choosing this API for real application code.
Practical Example
<?php
session_start();
if (!($_SESSION["authenticated"] ?? false)) { http_response_code(403); exit; }
$requestedNext = $_SESSION["post_login_route"] ?? "/dashboard";
$allowedRoutes = ["/dashboard", "/account"];
header("Location: " . (in_array($requestedNext, $allowedRoutes, true) ? $requestedNext : "/dashboard"), true, 303);The practical example is a teaching scenario. Change sample configuration and credentials before using a similar design in an application.
Important Behavior and Edge Cases
- Apply authentication, authorization, input limits and failure handling where the workflow crosses trust boundaries.
- Relevant PHP environment: PHP core. Ensure the required extension and operating-system capabilities are present.
- Check results and release resources where necessary; successful syntax alone does not guarantee a successful operation.
Comparison With Related Functions
| Option | When to Use It |
|---|---|
Preventing Open Redirects in Login Flows | After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination. |
PHP web application design | Use this related operation for its different responsibilities; do not assume identical inputs or return values. |
Common Beginner Mistakes
| Mistake | Correct Approach |
|---|---|
| Relying on a single mitigation | Combine validation, authorization, encoding and deployment controls as appropriate. |
| Trusting client-provided state without verification | Revalidate server-side with integrity and replay controls. |
| Exposing secrets in logs or error responses | Return sanitized messages and keep sensitive context in protected systems. |
Key Takeaways
- After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination.
- Apply authentication, authorization, input limits and failure handling where the workflow crosses trust boundaries.
- Validate inputs and handle failure conditions before integrating this operation into a production workflow.
After authentication, redirect only to locally recognized routes or trusted paths; never accept an arbitrary user-supplied destination. Use the appropriate runtime and treat any environment-dependent output as an example, not a guaranteed result.