LocationHeader

LocationHeader, more commonly referred to in technical contexts as the Location header, is an HTTP response header field that carries a URI pointing to the next resource the client should use. It is defined in RFC 7231 as a mechanism to indicate the preferred location of a resource after a request. The value of the header is a URI reference, which may be absolute or relative.

LocationHeader is most widely used to support resource redirection. In redirect responses, such as those with status codes 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308, the server includes a Location header containing the URL to which the client should navigate. User agents typically follow these redirects automatically, subject to user preferences and security policies.

Another common use is in the response to a request that creates a new resource. In a 201 Created response, the Location header indicates the URL of the newly created resource. In some cases, a 202 Accepted response may include a Location header to point to a URL where the client can poll or monitor the status of asynchronous processing.

Syntax and resolution: The Location header value must be a URI Reference. It can be absolute or a relative reference; if relative, the client resolves it against the base URI of the response, following standard URI resolution rules. Relativity to the original host or cross-origin considerations depend on the server’s implementation and security policies.

Security and design considerations: Location headers can enable user redirection, which, if misused, may lead to open redirect vulnerabilities or phishing risks. Servers should validate and, where appropriate, prefer absolute URLs and ensure redirects point to trusted destinations.