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Understanding $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'], $PHP_SELF, $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] and $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'] in PHP and when to use what

Angsuman Chakraborty

June 3rd, 2005

The above PHP variables have slight differences which are often ignored, often leading to problems in large scale deployments or product solutions. I have attempted to debug them for you.

$_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME']
This contains the current script's path. If you access http://blog.taragana.com/ or http://blog.taragana.com/index.php the $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'] will be same - /index.php. It is irrespective of the actual URI ($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']) used to access the site.

As it returns the actual script name, it fails provide additional path information that may be present. So if the $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] is /index.php/big/directory/ then too the $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'] will be same - /index.php.

$_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'] is supported on all platforms

$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']
This is the filename of the currently executing script, relative to the document root. However, unlike $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'], it provides additional path information like $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] when the actual php file is present in the path. So when the $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] is /index.php/big/directory/ then $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] will be /index.php/big/directory/.
However if all the URI's under http://www.example.com/ is mapped to http://www.example.com/index.php, then, for example, http://www.example.com/abc/def will return /index.php like $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME']. Note that $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] data is ignored for this request.

$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] is supported on all platforms.

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vijay Says:
June 15th, 2006 at 3:45 pm

$_SERVER variables not set by Tomcat

Not able to get the value for variable in Tomcat 5.5 and PHP Version 5.1.4 configuration

In fact, only values in _SERVER are

_SERVER is array 3
Key: REQUEST_TIME value: 1150399842
Key: argv value: Array
Key: argc value: 0

Searched but couldn’t find anything relevant. Any pointers?

DAN Says:
August 17th, 2006 at 12:08 am

Hey…I was wondering how to call a particular function by using the $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] command. Is there any supported way of calling a function from this?

-Dan P.

Dan Says:
December 3rd, 2006 at 4:40 am

hey,

I have a problem in which the url isn’t parsed properly so it doesnt add the .php to the end of the address in the url bar. for example, http://www.mysite.com/test/11 is suppose to be http://www.mysite.com/test/11.php the .php is missing.

My code:
Options +FollowSymlinks
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
AddType text/xml .xslt

SetHandler text/xml

# PHP is in CGI Mode, so we need a different mod_rewrite
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !categories\.php
RewriteRule ^categories(.*) /categories.php?$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !questions\.php
RewriteRule ^questions(.*)$ /questions.php?$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !search\.php
RewriteRule ^search(.*)$ /search.php?$1 [L]

Sebastian Says:
December 20th, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Hi there,

I need to retrieve just the page name from the URL - anyone knows how could I do it?
I want then assing its value to a variable and use it in sql query for comparasion.

Any help would be appreciated.
I look forward.

Sebastian

SATISH Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:33 pm

how can i get the file name without the directory name

ss Says:
June 19th, 2007 at 8:05 am

subash have searching ajob

used cars Says:
August 7th, 2007 at 6:42 am

Is this better to call php_self function or create a new file.Because when people refresh it submit the message twice, how can overcome this issue.

Prasad Patil Says:
October 8th, 2007 at 6:22 am

Hello..
I’ve done with a program which send copy from local machine to server.
I m having problem while copying the file. Its copied, but goes in Apache server. Please help me to copy that file in server(www)folder.