What are the advantages and disadvantages of using $_SERVER variables in PHP to manipulate URLs?

When manipulating URLs in PHP, using $_SERVER variables can be advantageous as they provide information about the server and request, such as the current URL, query parameters, and host name. This can be useful for tasks like creating dynamic links or redirecting users. However, relying solely on $_SERVER variables can lead to security vulnerabilities if not properly sanitized, as they can be manipulated by users to inject malicious code or access sensitive information.

// Example of using $_SERVER variables to manipulate URLs safely
$currentURL = "http://$_SERVER[HTTP_HOST]$_SERVER[REQUEST_URI]";
echo "Current URL: $currentURL";