Question

I have created a .htaccess file that allows for vanity URLs. However, I am no longer able to type http://www.website.com without typing in the index file. I.e. I have to type in http://www.website.com/index.php in order to see the homepage. This is what my .htaccess file looks like:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule .* - [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.website.com/profile.php?u=$1 [NC]

Anyone know how to fix this? Thank you all!

Answer 1

The way you defined your rule increased the complexity.

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule .* - [L]

Above rule means if file name is a directory of file process as it is. after that dont process farther.

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.website.com/profile.php?u=$1 [NC]

This rule means map any request uri to profile.php?u=

Now when you request / that is www.website.com it checks the first rule and it fails to match. Then it check the second rule and maps it to profile.php?u=.

1. One way to fix it, would be check *if $_GET['u'] is empty or / in profile.php. If it is then load the index.php.

2. Another way is to find a proper regular expression for your user names once found use it here.

   RewriteEngine on
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f 
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteRule ^(USERNAME_REGEX)$ http://www.website.com/profile.php?u=$1 [NC,L]
   

The best way to handle this is using PHP,

    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php?uri=$1 [L]

Now index.php will get every uri you pass. Now you can process the URI in index.php.