Understanding _server http_host for Dev

Hello Dev, are you looking to improve your website’s SEO? Understanding _server http_host is a crucial step to achieving higher rankings on Google’s search engine. In this article, we will break down what _server http_host is, how it works, and how you can utilize it to improve your website’s search engine optimization. Let’s get started!

What is _server http_host?

Before we dive into the technical details of _server http_host, let’s first define what it is. _server http_host is a server variable that stores the HTTP Host header value sent by the client. In simpler terms, it’s the host name that was used to access a website. For example, if someone types in www.example.com into their web browser, www.example.com would be the HTTP Host header value stored in _server http_host.

How does _server http_host work?

When a user types in a URL to access a website, their web browser sends a request to the server hosting the website. The request includes the HTTP Host header value, which is stored in _server http_host. The server then uses this value to determine which website or virtual host should be served to the user. This is why _server http_host is important for search engine optimization – it helps search engines understand which website they should be crawling and indexing.

Let’s take a look at an example to better illustrate how _server http_host works. Suppose you have two websites hosted on the same server – example.com and blog.example.com. When a user types in example.com into their web browser, the HTTP Host header value stored in _server http_host would be example.com. Similarly, if a user types in blog.example.com, the HTTP Host header value stored in _server http_host would be blog.example.com. This allows the server to serve the appropriate website or virtual host to the user.

Why is _server http_host important for SEO?

Now that we understand what _server http_host is and how it works, let’s discuss why it’s important for search engine optimization. _server http_host is important because it helps search engines understand which website they should be crawling and indexing. If a website has multiple virtual hosts or subdomains, it’s crucial that each virtual host or subdomain has its own unique _server http_host value. This enables search engines to understand that each virtual host or subdomain is a separate entity that should be crawled and indexed separately.

How can I utilize _server http_host to improve my website’s SEO?

Now that we know why _server http_host is important for SEO, let’s talk about how you can utilize it to improve your website’s search engine optimization. Here are a few tips:

FAQ

What happens if _server http_host is not set?

If _server http_host is not set, it defaults to the IP address of the server. This can cause issues with search engine optimization, as search engines may not be able to determine which website they should be crawling and indexing.

Do I need to worry about _server http_host if I only have one website hosted on my server?

If you only have one website hosted on your server, you don’t need to worry about _server http_host as much. However, it’s still a good idea to ensure that your website is accessible via both the www and non-www versions.

Can I change the _server http_host value?

No, you cannot change the _server http_host value. It is set automatically by the server based on the HTTP Host header value sent by the client.

How can I check the value of _server http_host?

You can check the value of _server http_host by adding the following code to your website’s PHP script:

<?php echo $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']; ?>

This will display the HTTP Host header value sent by the client.

What is the difference between _server http_host and _server server_name?

_server http_host stores the HTTP Host header value sent by the client, while _server server_name stores the server name defined in the server configuration file. In most cases, _server http_host is the preferred variable to use for search engine optimization purposes.

Conclusion

Understanding _server http_host is crucial for improving your website’s search engine optimization. By ensuring that each virtual host or subdomain has a unique _server http_host value, using canonical tags to avoid duplicate content issues, and ensuring your website is accessible via both the www and non-www versions, you can improve your website’s visibility on Google’s search engine. We hope this article has been informative and helpful. Good luck!