CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpapache.htaccessurlmod-rewrite
Rosamunda
Rosamunda

Reputation: 14980

How to create several URL aliases for a single page?

I'm using PHP and I've read about how to create aliases and do a rewrite rule in Apache.

The thing is that I would rather like a functionality similar to the one that I do have in a Drupal site.

For example:

The URL example.com/info.php?id=18&type=article should be accessible as:

case 1: example.com/article/18

and

case 2: example.com/special-url-to-the-article

I do understand the basics on how to create a specific alias for each article (case 2):

I think that I should check the url with something like $_GET['id'] and $_GET['type'] to look into it in a database that holds the alias and the other values, and if the alias exist form a new url with the id and type and send the user there.

But how do I manage case 1, where I set the type of content and the content id programmatically?

I just need some guidance that could point me out to some direction.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 537

Answers (2)

Rasclatt
Rasclatt

Reputation: 12505

I use a similar rewrite and, right or wrong, this is basically what I do. In both cases, your $_SERVER array should have one or more of these values:

[REQUEST_URI] => /article/18/
[QUERY_STRING] => article/18/
[REDIRECT_URL] => /article/18/
[REDIRECT_QUERY_STRING] => article/18/
[SCRIPT_URL] => /article/18/
[REDIRECT_SCRIPT_URL] => /article/18/

For me, I would have the path of deliberate pages (like an "about us" page or whatever) saved in a database in order to be able to look it up using the path, but if not there, as in this case, then you deal with the path further:

# Assign one of the server paths that is most reliable
$path  = $_SERVER['REDIRECT_URL'];
# Check if there is a path that matches a database path
$valid = $this->query("SELECT COUNT(*) AS count FROM `pages` WHERE `path` = ?",array($path))->getResults();
# If there is a page that is in the database, show that one
# Presumably this is what you mean by content and id programmically, ie.
# it's a pre-designated page, not an article that needs to be broken down
# but follows the same path pattern?
if($valid['count'] == 1) {
    # Go about doing normal stuff
    # Stop by using die(), exit, or if in function/method, return
    # Idea is to stop at this stage of the script if successful
}
else {
    # Explode the query
    $parts = array_filter(explode('/',$path));
    # Check if both parts exist
    if(isset($parts[0]) && isset($parts[1])) {
        # Assign type
        $type = $parts[0];
        # Assign ID
        $id   = $parts[1];
        # Fetch the results (you'll want to sanitize or match from an array the $type value to avoid injection)
        $page = $this->query("SELECT * FROM `{$type}` WHERE `ID` = ?",array($id))->getResults();
        # Check if page is valid and display
        # Stop by using die(), exit, or if in function/method, return
    }      
}

# Send a 404 header and display a not found
# Make the last thing happen show a 404 page by default

Anyway, this is basically what I do, but you can probably do a rewrite that will handle both scenarios from the htaccess file. I personally just have the one that funnels everything and I deal with the path and routing using PHP, then I don't have to create some user control to mess with editing the htaccess file if different scenarios are required down the line.

Upvotes: 2

pandesantos
pandesantos

Reputation: 369

Add these lines in .htaccess

1st case:

RewriteRule ^article/([0-9]+)$ info.php?id=$1

For second case:

RewriteRule your-desire-url$ yourpage.php

Upvotes: 2

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