Add HTTP header

Overview

The API Gateway can add HTTP headers to a message as it passes through a policy. It can also set a Base64-encoded value for the header. For example, you can use the Add HTTP Header filter to add a message ID to an HTTP header. This message ID can then be forwarded to the destination web service, where messages can be indexed and tracked by their IDs. In this way, you can create a complete audit trail of the message from the time it is received by the API Gateway, until it is processed by the back-end system.

Each message being processed by the API Gateway is assigned a unique transaction ID, which is stored in the id message attribute. You can use the ${id} selector to represent the value of the unique message ID. At runtime, this selector is expanded to the value of the id message attribute. For more details on selectors, see Select configuration values at runtime.

Configuration

To configure the Add HTTP Header filter, complete the following fields:

Name:

Enter an appropriate name for the filter.

HTTP Header Name:

Enter the name of the HTTP header to add to the message.

HTTP Header Value:

Enter the value of the new HTTP header. You can also enter selectors to represent message attributes. At runtime, the API Gateway expands the selector to the current value of the corresponding message attribute. For example, the ${id} selector is replaced by the value of the current message ID. Message attribute selectors have the following syntax:

${messsage_attribute}

Override existing header:

Select this setting to override the existing header value. This setting is selected by default.

[Note] Note

When overriding an existing header, the header can be an HTTP body related header or a general HTTP header. To override an HTTP body related header (for example, Content-Type), you must select the Override existing header and Add header to body settings.

Base64 Encode:

Select this setting to Base64 encode the HTTP header value. For example, you should use this if the header value is an X.509 certificate.

Add header to body:

Select this option to add the HTTP header to the message body.

Add header to HTTP headers attribute:

Select this option to add the HTTP header to the http.headers message attribute.