In what situations should PHP developers use the header function for redirection, and what precautions should be taken to ensure it functions correctly?

PHP developers should use the header function for redirection when they want to redirect users to a different page or URL. To ensure it functions correctly, developers should make sure that there is no output sent to the browser before using the header function and that the location header is set to the desired URL. Additionally, it is important to use the "exit" or "die" function after the header function to prevent any further code execution.

<?php
// Ensure no output is sent before using header
ob_start();

// Set the location header to the desired URL
header("Location: https://www.example.com");

// Prevent any further code execution
exit;
?>