X Powered By

The HTTP X-Powered-By response header is a non-standard header used to identify the application or framework responsible for generating the response.  

Note: The X-Powered-By header is not part of the official HTTP standard. While it can be useful for debugging or informational purposes, it may also pose security risks by exposing sensitive information about the server or application. It is often recommended to disable or remove this header in production environments to improve security.

Syntax

Syntax

X-Powered-By: <application>

Directives

<application> A string describing the server application or framework.

Examples

Express applications typically include the X-Powered-By response header with the value express. This header indicates that the server was powered by Express, a popular web application framework for Node.js. For example:

X-Powered-By: express

Note: This header is not part of any official web standards or specifications.

How to Modify Header using Requestly

Requestly is a powerful Chrome extension that allows you to modify HTTP headers, including the X-Powered-By header. This can help you customize or hide server information for better security or testing purposes. Steps to Modify the X-Powered-By Header:

1. Install and open the Requestly Chrome extension. You can find it on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Create a new rule: Click on “Create Rule” and choose “Modify Headers” from the list of available rule types.
3. Add a new header modification:
   • Under “Action”, select “Add” or “Override”.
   • In the “Header Name” field, enter X-Powered-By.
   • In the “Header Value” field, enter the value you want to set (e.g., MyCustomServer or leave blank to hide).
4. Set the URL condition: Specify the URL or pattern where this header change should apply (e.g., https://your-site.com/\*).
5. Save the rule.

Once set up, Requestly will inject or modify the X-Powered-By header in all matching requests, letting you control what information the server reveals to clients. Modifying the X-Powered-By header is useful because it helps protect your website by hiding server details that could be exploited by attackers. It also allows you to simulate different server environments during testing.