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Discover how to resolve 404 errors on your homepage when using `.htaccess` for vanity URLs. Our simple guide provides solutions to keep your SEO intact while ensuring proper URL functionality.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/65720238/ asked by the user 'JacobSa' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12278938/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/65720426/ provided by the user 'RavinderSingh13' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/5866580/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Fixing .htaccess Vanity URLs Causing 404 Errors on Homepage

If you've recently updated your .htaccess file to implement vanity URLs, you may have encountered a frustrating issue: navigating to certain URLs directs you to your homepage rather than the intended content or displays a 404 error. This guide aims to walk you through the process of resolving this issue efficiently.

Understanding Vanity URLs and Their Benefits

Vanity URLs allow users to access pages using simpler and more readable links, enhancing both user experience and SEO. Instead of a cumbersome URL like example.com/index.php?page=contact, users can now easily remember and access example.com/contact. However, implementing these URLs properly is critical to avoid unnecessary errors.

The Problem at Hand

After making your changes to the .htaccess file, you noticed that visiting URLs like example.com/euffhfrfreif takes you back to your homepage, instead of displaying a 404 error when a non-existent page is accessed. Why is this happening?

This issue often arises due to incorrect rewrite conditions and rules in the .htaccess file, or potentially how the index.php file is handling requests and outputs.

Step-by-Step Solution to Fix 404 Errors

1. Update Your .htaccess File

First and foremost, let’s make sure your .htaccess file is set up correctly. Begin by ensuring that RewriteEngine is turned on with the following rules:

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This simple statement rewrites requests to the index.php file while passing the requested page as a parameter.

2. Inspect Your index.php Logic

The second step involves checking your logic in the index.php file. The homepage should ideally be set to redirect correctly while handling non-existent pages properly.

Update Else Statement: If your current code redirects users back to the homepage for non-existing pages, you will need to change this behavior to return a 404 error instead. Instead of displaying the homepage, add a line to indicate that the page does not exist.

Set Default Homepage: Ensure your homepage is set with a specific query parameter, such as index.php?page=home. This will prevent the system from misidentifying every invalid request as a homepage request.

3. Clearing Your Browser Cache

After making these changes, ensure you clear your browser cache before testing the URLs again. Browsers often store older versions of pages, which can lead to misleading results when troubleshooting.

4. Test Your URLs

Now, test a few URLs that are meant to return a 404 error. For instance, try visiting example.com/nonexistentpage. You should see the custom 404 page you've defined in your .htaccess file instead of re-directing to the homepage.

5. Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully implement vanity URLs without running into homepage redirection issues. This not only improves your website's user experience but also bolsters your site's SEO performance. Remember, maintaining a clean and clear code structure in both your .htaccess file and PHP files is crucial for tackling such issues effectively.

If you continue to experience difficulties, consider reviewing your website's server logs for deeper insights or consulting further documentation regarding Apache's URL rewrite module.

Happy coding and may your vanity URLs serve you well!