PHP Mod_rewrite

Question

i'm new to mod_rewrite, and i'm trying to convert my web address from:

website.com/profile.php?user=andy

to the following:

website.com/user/andy

This is my following code:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^user/([A-Za-z0-9]+)/?$ profile.php?user=$1 [NC,L]

I researched extensively and this does seem to be the correct way to do it, but it doesn't redirect to where i want it to, it just redirects to this:

http://website.com/profile.php?user=andy

which means i must doing something wrong...

Can anyone help me out here? I would appreciate any tips.

Your code is correct. Did you give the link like <a href="website.com/user/andy">Test</a>. If so, then it will redirect to profile.php — nithi
– nithi, Commented Mar 23, 2012 at 8:51

AD7six · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-23 09:57:31Z

1

If you want

http://website.com/profile.php?user=andy ->301-> http://website.com/user/andy
http://website.com/user/andy means http://website.com/profile.php?user=andy

They are 2 different things, you'll need 2 rules:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^user=([A-Za-z0-9]+)
RewriteRule ^profile.php /user/%1? [R=301,L]

RewriteRule ^user/([A-Za-z0-9]+)/?$ profile.php?a=b&user=$1 [L]

The first will 301 (moved permanently) redirect to the pretty url. The second will allow your application to understand the pretty url.

Whenever you change the url scheme for a site you should take care of existing links. As such, that first rule is required/a good idea. You should not, however, need the first rule when using your own application. If your own application is generating links to profile.php?user=me - change your application code.

edited Mar 23, 2012 at 9:57

answered Mar 23, 2012 at 9:02

AD7six

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6 Comments

Andy Chan Over a year ago

Hey AD7, thank you so much, i read over some more mod_rewrite, and your way does seem to be the RIGHT way. It is the 301 that physically redirects to a prettier url. I copied and pasted your code to the .htaccess, but it still doesn't direct to website.com/user/andy , rather, it goes to website.com/profile.php?user=andy . If i go to website.com/user/andy, it does work though. AHHH this is so confusing T.T

Andy Chan Over a year ago

lol sorry im new. I noticed that you changed the code. Thanks so much for that. It finally redirects to website.com/user/andy but the page says "this page isn't redirecting properly, firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. I'm not sure what this means o.o

Andy Chan Over a year ago

Chrome gives the error: Error 310 (net::ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS): There were too many redirects.

Andy Chan Over a year ago

I think for the second line, maybe the L should be taken out? cuz doesn't the L stop running the rules, such as that the third line won't be reached? But RewriteRule ^profile.php /user/%1? [R=301] doesn't seem to work either :/

AD7six Over a year ago

tip: use copy and paste. and try the php chat room for "interactive" help, not comments.

|

Jan Hančič · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-23 08:39:33Z

1

You have to change your URLs when outputting them in your HTML to be in the format you want (/user/andy).

mod_rewrite will rewrite /user/andy to main.php?... not the other way around.

answered Mar 23, 2012 at 8:39

Jan Hančič

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Comments

alexn · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-23 08:40:30Z

1

What do you mean by my result?

mod_rewrite won't change existing links in your source code. Navigate to website.com/user/andy and you should see it work.

answered Mar 23, 2012 at 8:40

alexn

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2 Comments

Andy Chan Over a year ago

Hey alex! i meant result as in, when I log in, it will take me to that url and not the one i want (i re-edited, thanks for pointing that out). I tried your suggestion, and website.com/user/andy does seem to work if i go there, but it doesn't physically change on the url bar. How do i get it to physically change the words to website.com/user/andy and not website.com/profile.php?user=andy

Andy Chan Over a year ago

Thank you so much for the help alexn and AD7

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