X-Frame-Options

The X-Frame-Options HTTP response header can be used to indicate whether or not a browser should be allowed to render a page in a <frame>, <iframe> or <object> . Sites can use this to avoid clickjacking attacks, by ensuring that their content is not embedded into other sites.

The added security is only provided if the user accessing the document is using a browser supporting X-Frame-Options.

Header type Response header
Forbidden header name no

Syntax

There are three possible directives for X-Frame-Options:

X-Frame-Options: DENY
X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN
X-Frame-Options: ALLOW-FROM https://example.com/

Directives

If you specify DENY, not only will attempts to load the page in a frame fail when loaded from other sites, attempts to do so will fail when loaded from the same site. On the other hand, if you specify SAMEORIGIN, you can still use the page in a frame as long as the site including it in a frame is the same as the one serving the page.

DENY
The page cannot be displayed in a frame, regardless of the site attempting to do so.
SAMEORIGIN
The page can only be displayed in a frame on the same origin as the page itself.
ALLOW-FROM uri
The page can only be displayed in a frame on the specified origin.

Examples

Note: Setting the meta tag is useless! For instance, <meta http-equiv="X-Frame-Options" content="deny"> has no effect. Do not use it! Only by setting through the HTTP header like the examples below, X-Frame-Options will work.

Configuring Apache

To configure Apache to send the X-Frame-Options header for all pages, add this to your site's configuration:

Header always append X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN

To configure Apache to set the X-Frame-Options  deny , add this to your site's configuration:

Header set X-Frame-Options DENY

To configure Apache to set the X-Frame-Options  to ALLOW-FROM a specific Host , add this to your site's configuration:

Header set X-Frame-Options "ALLOW-FROM https://example.com/"

Configuring nginx

To configure nginx to send the X-Frame-Options header, add this either to your http, server or location configuration:

add_header X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN;

Configuring IIS

To configure IIS to send the X-Frame-Options header, add this your site's Web.config file:

<system.webServer>
  ...
  <httpProtocol>
    <customHeaders>
      <add name="X-Frame-Options" value="SAMEORIGIN" />
    </customHeaders>
  </httpProtocol>
  ...
</system.webServer>

Configuring HAProxy

To configure HAProxy to send the X-Frame-Options header, add this to your front-end, listen, or backend configuration:

rspadd X-Frame-Options:\ SAMEORIGIN

Specifications

Specification Title
RFC 7034 HTTP Header Field X-Frame-Options

Browser compatibility

FeatureChromeFirefoxEdgeInternet ExplorerOperaSafari
Basic Support4.03.6.9(Yes)8.010.504.0
ALLOW-FROM(No)18?8.0?(Yes)
FeatureAndroidChrome for AndroidEdge mobileFirefox for AndroidIE mobileOpera AndroidiOS Safari
Basic Support(Yes)(Yes)(Yes)(Yes)(Yes)(Yes)(Yes)
ALLOW-FROM???????

See also