1-Minute Tutorial: Permanent (301) Redirect via PHP or htaccess
Here is an example of one of the most frequently asked PHP/htaccess-related questions I receive here at Perishable Press:
How do I redirect a specific page/URL using PHP/htaccess?
So common is this inquiry that I have decided to just post a quick, “one-minute” tutorial describing the technique.
Permanent (301) Redirect via PHP
To permanently redirect a page via PHP, place this code before all other content (i.e., at the very top of the document):
<?php // Permanent 301 Redirect via PHP
header("HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently");
header("Location: http://domain.tld/new/location/");
exit();
?>Alternately, this snippet may be consolidated into a single line as follows:
<?php header("Location: http://domain.tld/new/location/", true, 301); ?>Once in place, this code (either method) will redirect the visitor to the address specified in the third line. Edit that address to match the redirect target and you’re all set. Note: when placed in a header file that is included in multiple web pages, this code will redirect all of them to the specified address.
Permanent (301) Redirect via htaccess
This one is even easier. To permanently redirect a page via htaccess, place this code in your target (e.g., root) htaccess file:
redirect 301 /path/to/old-file.php http://domain.tld/path/to/new-file.phpThis is a very common method of permanently redirecting single pages. Once in place, this code will redirect the visitor from the location listed first to the location listed second. Note that the first location is specified relative to the root directory (i.e., the directory in which the htaccess file is found), whereas the second location is specified as the complete URL.
6 responses to “1-Minute Tutorial: Permanent (301) Redirect via PHP or htaccess”
The two-liner call to PHP’s
header()function can be simplified down to one line:header('Location: 'http://www.example.com/', true, 301);The second parameter (
true) determines whether or not that header should replace similar headers which have already been specified; it requires PHP 4.0.4 or newer.The third parameter (
301) is the HTTP status code that should be sent; it requires PHP 4.3.0 or newer.Both the 2nd & 3rd parameters are, of course, optional, but that 3rd parameter is a lot easier to use than crafting extra
header()statements to send the proper HTTP response.Excellent information, as usual, Rick.. I am most fortunate to have you as a reader :) Once again, thank you for keeping me in check! (Now, if I could only make up my mind regarding those dated permalinks..)
I’ve benefited from what you’ve written here for a long time, and I’ve a long way to go in returning that favor! :D
You are too kind! ;)
Hi there.
I’m trying to redirect all IPs except mine. I have the following in my root .htaccess file and all works great except it only redirects the home page. Anyone can still go to other parts of the site. I would really appreciate your thoughts.
Note: RewriteEngine on is at start of file
Options +FollowSymLinks# redirect all except developer ip addresses to alternate domain# home ip addressRewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^XXX.XXX.XX.XX$# work ip address# RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^XXX.XXX.XX\.XX$RewriteRule .* http://www.google.com/ [R=302,L]Hi Dean,
Here is the code that works for me:
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^987\.654\.321\.987$RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^123\.456\.789\.123$RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.google.com/ [R=302,L]..of course, you will want to change the IP addresses to match those of your own.
— Good luck!