How Can I Create User-Friendly URLs in PHP Using mod_rewrite or ForceType?

Creating Friendly URLs in PHP

In the realm of web development, the URL structure plays a pivotal role in enhancing user experience and search engine optimization. Traditionally, URLs followed a numeric identifier pattern, such as "www.domain.com/profile.php?u=12345." However, modern websites adopt user-friendly URLs like "www.domain.com/profile/12345."

Leveraging mod_rewrite

To achieve this transformation in PHP, one effective approach involves utilizing the mod_rewrite module. By incorporating rules into an .htaccess file, you can redirect requests to a PHP script that interprets the friendly URL and generates the appropriate content. For instance, the following rule maps requests to "/news/63.html" to "/news.php?news_id=63":

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^/news/([0-9]+)\.html /news.php?news_id=

Harnessing ForceType

Alternatively, you can employ forceType to direct all requests through PHP regardless of the path. To do so, include the following in your .htaccess file:

<Files news>
    ForceType application/x-httpd-php
</Files>

This approach enables you to retrieve the friendly URL using the $_SERVER['PATH_INFO'] variable in your PHP code. For example:

echo $_SERVER['PATH_INFO'];
// outputs '/63.html'

By implementing these techniques, you can create user-friendly URLs that not only enhance the user experience but also improve your website's search engine visibility.

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