How to work with request headers and responses in Laravel?
Aug 01, 2025 am 12:19 AM
Laravel allows easy access to request headers via the Request object or request() helper, such as $request->header('Content-Type') or request()->header('X-Forwarded-For').You can check for header existence using $request->hasHeader('X-API-Key') and retrieve all headers with $request->header().To send custom headers in responses, use ->header('Key', 'Value') for single headers or ->withHeaders(['Key' => 'Value']) for multiple.For JSON responses, use response()->json($data)->header('Location', $url) to combine data and headers.Use middleware to globally set headers like X-Frame-Options or X-Content-Type-Options by modifying the response object in the handle method.Implement conditional logic based on headers, such as responding with JSON if $request->acceptsJson() or serving XML if Accept header is application/xml.Security headers should be consistently applied using middleware to avoid code duplication and enhance protection. Laravel provides a clean, consistent way to handle both incoming request headers and outgoing response headers across applications.
Working with request headers and responses in Laravel is straightforward thanks to its expressive HTTP foundation. Whether you're building APIs or traditional web apps, Laravel provides clean ways to handle incoming headers and craft outgoing responses with custom headers.
Accessing Request Headers
In Laravel, you can retrieve request headers using the Illuminate\Http\Request instance. You typically inject it into your controller methods or use the request() helper.
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
public function index(Request $request)
{
// Get a specific header
$contentType = $request->header('Content-Type');
// With a default fallback
$accept = $request->header('Accept', 'text/html');
// Check if header exists
if ($request->hasHeader('X-API-Key')) {
// Do something
}
// Get all headers
$headers = $request->header();
}? Common use case: Authenticating API requests via a custom header like
X-API-Keyor readingAuthorizationfor Bearer tokens.
You can also access headers via the global request() helper:
$ip = request()->header('X-Forwarded-For');Sending Responses with Custom Headers
When returning a response, you can attach headers using the header() or withHeaders() methods.
Single Header
return response('Hello', 200)->header('X-Custom-Header', 'Value');Multiple Headers
return response('Success', 200)
->withHeaders([
'X-Transaction-ID' => 'abc123',
'X-RateLimit-Limit' => 100,
'X-RateLimit-Remaining' => 99,
]);This is especially useful in API development to pass metadata like rate limits, version info, or tracking IDs.
Working with JSON Responses and Headers
For APIs, you’ll often return JSON. Laravel’s json() response method lets you set headers cleanly:
return response()->json([
'message' => 'User created',
'id' => 123
], 201)->header('Location', route('users.show', 123));You can also set the Content-Type explicitly (though Laravel usually handles this):
return response()->json($data)
->header('Content-Type', 'application/json; charset=utf-8');Modifying Response Headers in Middleware
Sometimes you want to add headers globally or conditionally. Use middleware for this.
Create a middleware:
php artisan make:middleware AddCustomHeaders
Then in the middleware:
public function handle($request, Closure $next)
{
$response = $next($request);
$response->headers->set('X-Frame-Options', 'DENY');
$response->headers->set('X-Content-Type-Options', 'nosniff');
return $response;
}Register it in app/Http/Kernel.php under $middleware or a route group.
? Security tip: Use middleware to enforce security headers across your app.
Handling Conditional Logic Based on Headers
You might want to change behavior based on the client’s request. For example, serving different content based on Accept or User-Agent.
if ($request->acceptsJson() || $request->wantsJson()) {
return response()->json(['status' => 'ok']);
}
if ($request->header('User-Agent') && str_contains($request->header('User-Agent'), 'Mobile')) {
// Redirect or customize for mobile
}Another example: content negotiation.
if ($request->header('Accept') === 'application/xml') {
return response()->xml($data);
}(You’d need to define a macro or use a package for xml() unless you implement it yourself.)
Summary of Key Methods
-
Get headers:
$request->header('Name'),$request->hasHeader() -
Set response headers:
->header(),->withHeaders([]) -
JSON responses:
response()->json() - Global headers: Use middleware to modify outgoing responses
-
Conditional logic: Use
acceptsJson(),wantsJson(), or inspect headers directly
Basically, Laravel gives you full control over headers on both sides—reading them from the client and setting them in responses—without sacrificing simplicity. Just remember to keep security-related headers consistent, and use middleware when possible to avoid repeating code.
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