How to Redirect from a Delete Page in PHP

Описание: A comprehensive guide on how to manage page redirection in PHP after a delete operation, ensuring users return to the correct page.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63150027/ asked by the user 'Erik Auranaune' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2798181/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63150132/ provided by the user 'Obzi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6887846/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Handling Redirection After Deleting a Record in PHP

Working with databases in PHP often involves creating, reading, updating, and deleting records. A common scenario arises when users need to delete a record and then be redirected back to the appropriate page. This guide will walk you through a simple approach to solve this issue using PHP.

The Problem: Redirecting After Deletion

In a typical setup, you may have multiple pages (for example, index.php and stats.php) where users can view records and delete them as needed. Let's consider a situation where the user presses a delete button that leads to a script like delete.php, responsible for executing the delete operation and handling redirection.

Question Breakdown

Pages in Use: index.php and stats.php both feature delete functionalities.

Delete Action: When the user clicks on the delete-button, they're transported to delete.php, which deletes a specific record based on ID passed via the URL (?id=50).

Redirection Issue: After deletion, the script redirects to index.php, but what if the delete action originated from stats.php? How do you ensure the user returns to the correct source page?

The Solution: Leveraging HTTP Referer

To tackle this problem efficiently, you can utilize the $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] variable in PHP, which captures the URL from which the user arrived at the current page. Here's how to apply it:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Accessing the Referer:
When a user clicks the delete button on either index.php or stats.php, the HTTP referer will contain the URL of the originating page. Here's a breakdown of how you can capture it in delete.php.

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Understanding the Code:

After executing the delete query, the code checks whether the deletion was successful.

If successful, the user is redirected back to the previous page using header("location:" . $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']);.

If there’s an error during deletion, an error message is shown.

Why It Works:
The $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] variable captures the URL of the page from which the user navigated to delete.php. This allows your application to remember the starting point, thus redirecting the user accordingly.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Referer not Set: In some cases, HTTP_REFERER may not be set due to browser settings or other factors. It's good practice to have a fallback URL (like index.php) in case it’s not available.

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Security Considerations: Be aware that relying solely on HTTP_REFERER can be a security risk, as malicious users can spoof the referer header.

Conclusion

Redirecting users back to the correct page after a delete operation is a common requirement in PHP applications. By utilizing $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'], you can provide a seamless experience for your users. Remember to handle potential pitfalls and ensure that your application remains robust in various scenarios.

Now you're equipped with the knowledge to manage deletions and redirections effectively in your PHP projects! Happy coding!