> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Forwarding incoming e-mail messages to a script file

> Learn to set up email forwarders to pipe messages to a script in cPanel with our step-by-step guide.

cPanel allows you to set up e-mail forwarders that pipe incoming e-mail messages to a script file. You can then program a script file to automatically process the incoming messages however you want.

## Configuring a script

The following languages are currently supported for e-mail forwarder scripts:

* PHP

* Perl

* Python

* Ruby

When you set up a script, there are two things you must do to make sure the forwarder functions correctly:

1. **Use the correct shebang:** This depends on the language you are using to write the script. For example, a PHP script file should use the following shebang at the start of the file:

   ```
   #!/usr/bin/php -q
   ```

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > The **-q** option enables quiet mode, which suppresses HTTP header output. For information about the correct shebangs for other languages, please see [this article](/docs/using-the-shebang).

2. **Set the correct file permissions for the script:** To do this, type the following command, replacing ***scriptfile*** with the script filename:

   ```bash theme={null}
   chmod 755 scriptfile
   ```

   > 🚧 Important
   >
   > If there are any configuration errors in the forwarder or in the script file, the message sender receives the following message:
   >
   > ```
   > Mail delivery failed: returning message to sender
   > ```
   >
   > Additionally, this return message may list errors that contain code fragments from the script file. Make sure you test your script file thoroughly before you use it with an active e-mail forwarder!

### Example PHP script

The following PHP code sample shows one way to process an incoming e-mail message. The script simply reads the message from **stdin**, and then stores the message text in a variable named **\$message**:

```php theme={null}
#!/usr/bin/php -q
<?php

$fd = fopen( "php://stdin", "r" );

$message = "";

while (!feof( $fd ) )
{
    $message .= fread( $fd, 1024 );
}

fclose( $fd );

// The $message variable now holds the entire message text,
// which you can use for further processing.
?>
```

## Adding an email forwarder in cPanel

To add an e-mail forwarder that redirects to a script file, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Email** section, click **Forwarders**:\
   ![cPanel - Email - Forwarders icon](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-cpanel-jupiter-email-forwarders-icon.png)

3. Click **Add Forwarder**.

4. In the **Address to Forward** text box, type the account username.

5. In the **Domain** list box, select the domain for the e-mail account.

6. Click **Advanced Options**.

7. Click **Pipe to a Program**, and then in the text box, type the path to the script relative to your home directory. For example, if your script is located at */home/username/scripts/process\_mail.php*, you would type `scripts/process_mail.php`.

8. Click **Add Forwarder**. The forwarder activates immediately.

9. You can test the forwarder by sending an e-mail message to the e-mail address. The corresponding script file should run.

## Related articles

* [E-mail forwarders](/docs/e-mail-forwarders)

* [Using the shebang](/docs/using-the-shebang)