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How to Hide .Php Extension With .Htaccess?

5 minutes read

To hide the .php extension in URLs using the .htaccess file, you can use the mod_rewrite module in Apache. First, create a .htaccess file in the root directory of your website if you don't already have one. Then, add the following code to the .htaccess file:

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RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.php [NC,L]


This code checks if the requested file does not exist as a regular file or directory. If the condition is met, it rewrites the URL to remove the .php extension. This way, users can access PHP files without seeing the .php extension in the URL.


What is the impact of hiding .php extension on server security and access control?

Hiding the .php extension on a server can have both positive and negative impacts on security and access control.

  1. Improved security: By hiding the .php extension, you are making it harder for potential attackers to identify the technologies used on your server. This can help prevent certain types of attacks, such as targeted attacks against specific vulnerabilities in PHP scripts. It also reduces the risk of attackers gaining valuable information about your server configuration.
  2. Enhanced access control: Hiding the .php extension can also help in enforcing access control policies. For example, you can use URL rewriting techniques to create user-friendly URLs that hide the underlying PHP scripts. This can make it easier to implement access control rules based on URL patterns and prevent unauthorized access to certain pages or scripts on your server.


However, hiding the .php extension is not a foolproof security measure and should not be relied upon as the sole method for protecting your server. It is important to implement other security measures, such as strong authentication mechanisms, proper input validation, and regular security updates, to ensure the overall security of your server and applications.


How to troubleshoot issues with hiding .php extension using .htaccess?

  1. Check the .htaccess file: Make sure that the .htaccess file is properly configured and located in the root directory of your website.
  2. Verify the Apache server configuration: Make sure that the Apache server is configured to allow the use of .htaccess files. You can do this by checking the AllowOverride directive in the Apache configuration file.
  3. Check the mod_rewrite module: Make sure that the mod_rewrite module is enabled on your server. You can check this by looking at the list of loaded modules in your Apache configuration.
  4. Verify the RewriteEngine directive: Make sure that the RewriteEngine directive is set to on in your .htaccess file. This directive is required to enable the use of mod_rewrite rules.
  5. Check the mod_rewrite rules: Make sure that the mod_rewrite rules in your .htaccess file are correctly specified and written. Make sure that the rules are written in the correct syntax and are not conflicting with other rules.
  6. Test the redirection: Try accessing a page on your website without the .php extension to see if the redirection is working properly. If it is not, then there may be an issue with the mod_rewrite rules or the server configuration.
  7. Check for errors: Check your server error logs for any errors related to the mod_rewrite module or the .htaccess file. This can help you identify the root cause of the issue.
  8. Consult with your hosting provider: If you are still experiencing issues with hiding the .php extension using .htaccess, consider reaching out to your hosting provider for assistance. They may be able to provide further insights and troubleshooting steps.


How to ensure compatibility with different server configurations when hiding .php extension?

  1. Use a server-side scripting language like PHP: Make sure that your server supports PHP and that your website is using PHP for generating dynamic content.
  2. Use URL rewriting: Use Apache's mod_rewrite module or similar modules in other web servers to rewrite the URLs so that they appear without the .php extension. This will make the URLs more user-friendly and improve SEO.
  3. Test on different server configurations: Test your website on different server configurations to ensure that the URL rewriting works correctly on all of them. This may include shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting environments.
  4. Use a consistent file structure: Make sure that all of your PHP files are organized in a consistent manner and avoid storing them in non-standard locations. This will make it easier for the server to locate the correct file when processing the rewritten URLs.
  5. Consider server restrictions: Some server configurations may have restrictions on URL rewriting or file extensions. Make sure to consult with your server administrator or hosting provider to ensure that your desired setup is feasible.
  6. Use a CMS or framework: If you are using a content management system (CMS) or a web development framework, make sure that it supports URL rewriting and hiding the .php extension. This will help ensure compatibility with different server configurations.
  7. Monitor server logs: Monitor your server logs regularly to detect any errors or issues related to URL rewriting and hidden file extensions. This will help you identify and troubleshoot any compatibility issues quickly.


How to hide .php extension for specific files or directories only?

To hide the .php extension for specific files or directories, you can use URL rewriting rules in your .htaccess file. Here is an example of how to achieve this:

  1. Create or edit the .htaccess file in the root directory of your website.
  2. Add the following lines to the .htaccess file: 
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RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}\.php -f
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ $1.php [L]


  1. Replace $1.php with the actual file name that you want to hide the .php extension for. For example, if you want to hide the extension for a file called example.php, the rule should look like this:
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RewriteRule ^example$ example.php [L]


  1. Save the .htaccess file and test if the .php extension is hidden for the specific file or directory.


Please note that this method only works for Apache web servers with mod_rewrite enabled. If you are using a different web server or do not have access to the .htaccess file, you may need to use different methods to hide the .php extension.

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