header location

[LittleJoe]

I have a pretty long script with two header functions which make use of the HTTP location thing. So basically, if a certain criteria is met then the first one is fired otherwise the script is supposed to continue until it gets to the second one. However, the script always seems to jump over the first one and not stop there but to continue until it reaches the second one. Example:

if ($somethingIsTrue){   header("Location: first.php");} // a whole lot of code header("Location: second.php");

The only way to get it to stop at the first one is to do this:

if ($somethingIsTrue){   header("Location: first.php");   exit;} // a whole lot of code header("Location: second.php");

Otherwise it just runs over the first one. Is this normal? Is there something that I'm missing?

Edited December 16, 2012 by LittleJoe

[boen_robot]

Yes. It's normal.What you're missing is that PHP collects all headers, and only sends all of them once output starts, or when the script is finished (whichever comes first). By doing "exit;", you're forcing the end of the script, and thus all headers are sent.

[LittleJoe]

Yes. It's normal. What you're missing is that PHP collects all headers, and only sends all of them once output starts, or when the script is finished (whichever comes first). By doing "exit;", you're forcing the end of the script, and thus all headers are sent.

That actually makes sense. Thanks.