Access-Control-Allow-Origin

The Access-Control-Allow-Origin response header indicates whether the response can be shared with requesting code from the given origin.

Header type Response header
Forbidden header name no

Syntax

Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *
Access-Control-Allow-Origin: <origin>
Access-Control-Allow-Origin: null

Directives

*
For requests without credentials, the literal value "*" can be specified, as a wildcard; the value tells browsers to allow requesting code from any origin to access the resource. Attempting to use the wildcard with credentials will result in an error.
<origin>
Specifies an origin. Only a single origin can be specified. If the server supports clients from multiple origins, it must return the origin for the specific client making the request.
null
Specifies the origin "null".
Note: null should not be used: "It may seem safe to return Access-Control-Allow-Origin: "null", but the serialization of the Origin of any resource that uses a non-hierarchical scheme (such as data: or file:) and sandboxed documents is defined to be "null". Many User Agents will grant such documents access to a response with an Access-Control-Allow-Origin: "null" header, and any origin can create a hostile document with a "null" Origin. The "null" value for the ACAO header should therefore be avoided."

Examples

A response that tells the browser to allow code from any origin to access a resource will include the following:

Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *

A response that tells the browser to allow requesting code from the origin https://developer.mozilla.org to access a resource will include the following:

Access-Control-Allow-Origin: https://developer.mozilla.org

Limiting the possible Access-Control-Allow-Origin values to a set of allowed origins requires code on the server side to check the value of the Origin request header, compare that to a list of allowed origins, and then if the Origin value is in the list, to set the Access-Control-Allow-Origin value to the same value as the Origin value.

CORS and caching

If the server sends a response with an Access-Control-Allow-Origin value that is an explicit origin (rather than the "*" wildcard), then the response should also include a Vary response header with the value Origin — to indicate to browsers that server responses can differ based on the value of the Origin request header.

Access-Control-Allow-Origin: https://developer.mozilla.org
Vary: Origin

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Fetch
The definition of 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' in that specification.
Living Standard Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
Access-Control-Allow-OriginChrome Full support 4Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 10Opera Full support 12Safari Full support 4WebView Android Full support 2Chrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 12Safari iOS Full support 3.2Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also