URL Rewriting with .htaccess

URL rewriting is a powerful technique used to create cleaner, more user-friendly URLs, enhance SEO, and maintain backward compatibility. In Apache, this is accomplished using the mod_rewrite module in .htaccess files.

Enabling mod_rewrite

Before using URL rewriting, ensure mod_rewrite is enabled. Add this line to your Apache configuration:

LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so

In .htaccess, start by enabling the rewrite engine:

RewriteEngine On

Basic URL Rewriting

Simple Redirect: Redirect a URL to a new location.

RewriteRule ^old-page\.html$ /new-page.html [R=301,L]

• ^old-page\.html$: Matches the old URL.
• /new-page.html: Redirects to the new URL.
• [R=301,L]: Performs a 301 permanent redirect and stops further rules.

Clean URLs: Convert dynamic URLs to clean URLs.

RewriteRule ^products/([0-9]+)/([a-zA-Z-]+)$ product.php?id=$1&name=$2 [L]

• ^products/([0-9]+)/([a-zA-Z-]+)$: Matches /products/123/product-name.
• product.php?id=$1&name=$2: Rewrites to product.php?id=123&name=product-name.

Advanced Techniques

Wildcard Redirects: Redirect all .php pages to .html.

RewriteRule ^(.*)\.php$ /$1.html [R=301,L]

Conditional Redirects: Redirect based on conditions, such as browser type or referrer.

RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^Mozilla [NC]
RewriteRule ^old-browser$ /upgrade.html [R=302,L]

Best Practices

1. Use Permanent Redirects: Use [R=301] for permanent redirects to inform search engines of the change.
2. Test Thoroughly: Test rules in a development environment to avoid disrupting live traffic.
3. Keep Rules Organized: Document and organize rewrite rules to maintain clarity and ease of maintenance.

Conclusion

URL rewriting with .htaccess is a versatile tool for managing URLs, improving SEO, and enhancing user experience. By leveraging mod_rewrite, you can create intuitive and clean URLs, ensuring your website is both user-friendly and search engine optimized.