How do I convert a PHP query string into a slash-based URL?

Question

I am a pretty skilled programmer, but when it comes to RegEx and rewriting, I am a total n00b. I want to convert a URL from

http://www.example.com/lookup.ph         


        

Answer 1

Take a look on htaccess rewrite urls! :)

Here's your example:

RewriteRule ^lookup/(\d+)/(.*)$ /lookup.php?id=$1&name=$2

When you access lookup/123/my-product/, it'll call the lookup.php?id=123&name=my-product file internally.

Answer 2

Simple .htaccess example:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^lookup/([a-z0-9\-]+)/item/?$ /lookup.php?id=$1
</IfModule>

This will match any alphanumeric (also will recognise dashes) string of any length as the 'id'. You can limit this to just numeric by changing the regex to ([0-9]+).

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^lookup/([a-z0-9\-]+)/([a-z0-9\-]+)/?$ /lookup.php?id=$1&view=$2
</IfModule>

This one will match /lookup/123/some-text/ to /lookup.php?id=123&view=some-text

Answer 3

Do you want to redirect from the old URL to the new? Or are you looking to read in those "friendly" URLs and then have them behave like the old URL?

If it's the latter, try taking a look at Net_URL_Mapper as a way to parse and redirect those links fairly easily.