How to Hide .Php Extension With .Htaccess?

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If you want to hide the .php extension in your URLs using .htaccess file, you can do so with the following code:

  1. Open your .htaccess file in the root directory of your website.
  2. Add the following code to the file:
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RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.php [NC,L]


  1. Save the file and upload it to your server.


This code will remove the .php extension from your URLs and display them without it. For example, if your URL was example.com/page.php, it will now display as example.com/page.


How to properly configure server settings to support the removal of the .php extension?

To properly configure server settings to support the removal of the .php extension, you can follow these steps:

  1. Update the .htaccess file: If you are using an Apache server, you can modify the .htaccess file in the root directory of your website. Add the following code to the .htaccess file:
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RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.php [NC,L]


This code will remove the .php extension from URLs on your website.

  1. Restart the server: After making changes to the .htaccess file, it is important to restart the server for the changes to take effect. You can do this by restarting the Apache server through the command line or the server control panel.
  2. Test the configuration: Once you have made these changes, test the configuration by accessing a URL on your website without the .php extension. If everything is set up correctly, the page should still load without any issues.


By following these steps, you can properly configure server settings to support the removal of the .php extension from URLs on your website.


How to update the internal links on my website after hiding the .php extension with .htaccess?

To update the internal links on your website after hiding the .php extension with .htaccess, you will need to manually update the links in your HTML or PHP files.


Here is a step-by-step guide to help you update the internal links:

  1. Open your HTML or PHP files in a text editor or code editor.
  2. Search for all instances of links that contain the .php extension.
  3. Update these links by removing the .php extension from the URL.
  4. For example, if you have a link like About, you should change it to About.
  5. Save the changes to the file and repeat this process for all files on your website that contain links with the .php extension.


It is important to test your website thoroughly after updating the internal links to ensure that all links are working correctly and that there are no broken links. Additionally, make sure to update any external links that may lead to pages with the .php extension.


What are the potential drawbacks of hiding the .php extension with .htaccess?

  1. Compatibility issues: Some servers may not be configured to recognize the .htaccess file, causing the extension to be visible to users.
  2. SEO implications: Hiding the .php extension can affect the indexing of your website on search engines, as URLs with extensions are typically more easily identifiable by search engine crawlers.
  3. Confusion for developers: Hiding the .php extension may make it difficult for developers to quickly identify and locate the type of file they are working with.
  4. Security risks: Hiding the .php extension may make it harder for developers to protect against potential vulnerabilities, as the true nature of the file may not be readily apparent.
  5. Maintenance issues: Hiding the .php extension can make it more challenging to keep track of and update URLs within your codebase, potentially leading to errors or broken links.


How can I improve the security of my website by hiding the .php extension?

Hiding the .php extension of your website can improve security by making it harder for potential attackers to identify and target vulnerabilities specific to PHP pages. Here are some ways you can achieve this:

  1. Use URL rewriting: You can use URL rewriting techniques to mask the .php extension in the URLs of your website. This can be done by configuring your web server to rewrite URLs with the .php extension to be displayed without it. For example, you can rewrite a URL like www.example.com/page.php to appear as www.example.com/page.
  2. Enable file extensions hiding: You can configure your web server to hide file extensions by default. This can be done by setting up rules in the server configuration file to automatically strip the .php extension from URLs requested by users.
  3. Use a content management system (CMS): If you are using a CMS like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, these platforms often have built-in features or plugins that can help hide the .php extension in URLs. Check the documentation or community forums for specific instructions on how to do this for your chosen CMS.
  4. Implement security measures: While hiding the .php extension can improve security, it is not a foolproof solution. Make sure to also implement other security measures such as keeping your software up to date, using strong passwords, enabling HTTPS, and regularly scanning for vulnerabilities.


By implementing these measures, you can improve the security of your website by hiding the .php extension and making it harder for attackers to target specific vulnerabilities associated with PHP pages.

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