What precautions should be taken before using the header() function for redirection in PHP?

When using the header() function for redirection in PHP, it is important to ensure that no output has been sent to the browser before calling the function. This is because header() must be called before any actual output is sent, including whitespace. To prevent any output, you can use ob_start() to buffer the output before sending headers. 

<?php
ob_start();
// Place any code here that may generate output

// Redirect to a new page after buffering output
header("Location: new_page.php");
exit();
ob_end_flush();
?>

Keywords

header function redirection security output buffering HTTP headers

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