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Asked: 2026-05-24T17:14:23+00:00

I have written this simple .htaccess file on my localhost for testing: RewriteEngine on

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I have written this simple .htaccess file on my localhost for testing:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^(.+)$ $1a    
RewriteRule ^(.+)$ $1b

Now requesting http://localhost/test/x, I get the error Forbidden on /test/xa/xba/xa/xbba/xa/xba/xa/xbbba/xa/xba/xa/xbba/xa/xba/xa/xbbbba/...

I don’t understand why this happens, since I don’t use the [N] flag, or anything else, that should cause mod_rewrite to recurse. Also, even if it did recurse, I would expect /test/xabababababababababa... not that nearly tree looking pattern above.

Can anyone tell me what’s going on?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Because that is how mod_rewrite works — after rewriting happens it goes to next iteration (when exactly — it depends on rewrite flags and other “moments”).

    If you do not build your rule in a correct manner you will have rewrite loop, which Apache has to forcibly stop at some point.

    Useful link to read: RewriteRule Last [L] flag not working?

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