How to Redirect ALL URLs Ending with a Word Using .htaccess

Learn how to seamlessly remove a specific word from URLs using `.htaccess` with this step-by-step guide!
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Redirect ALL URLs Ending with a Specific Word Using .htaccess

Managing URLs effectively is crucial for maintaining a user-friendly and SEO-friendly website. If you've found yourself needing to remove a specific suffix from your URLs—like -text for example—this guide will guide you through the steps to achieve that using your .htaccess file.

Understanding the Problem

Many webmasters and developers encounter the need to streamline URLs, especially when optimizing for search engines or enhancing user experience. In this case, we want to ensure that all URLs ending with -text/ are redirected to their corresponding base URL without the -text portion. For instance, a URL like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

should redirect to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Solution Overview

To implement this redirection, we will utilize the RewriteRule directive in the .htaccess file. This is crucial as it allows Apache servers to modify and redirect requests based on certain conditions. Let’s break down the steps to set it up properly.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access Your .htaccess File

Login to your website's server via FTP or your hosting provider's file manager.

Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. If it doesn't exist, you can create one.

Step 2: Edit the .htaccess File

Open the .htaccess file and add the following line of code before the - BEGIN WordPress section:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

What does this code do?

The code matches any URL that ends with -text/ and captures everything before -text using (.+).

It then redirects (R=302) to the URL without the -text part.

Step 3: Test Redirects

Once you've added the rule, make sure to test the redirection. Open your browser and navigate to a URL like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You should be correctly redirected to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Refine Your Redirect (Optional)

If you only want to apply this redirect to URLs with a single path segment (like example-text/), update the rule to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Important Notes

Temporary vs Permanent Redirects: The rule as written uses a 302 temporary redirect. If you are sure about the changes and want them to be permanent, change R=302 to R=301. However, it is advised to test with a 302 first to ensure functionality, since 301 redirects can be cached by browsers and complicate future updates.

Backup Your .htaccess File: Before making any changes, always back up your current .htaccess file. This way, you can easily revert back if anything goes awry.

Conclusion

Redirecting URLs properly can significantly improve how users and search engines interact with your website. By following the above steps, you can effectively redirect all URLs ending with a specific word like -text using your .htaccess file. This method not only enhances user experience but also helps in maintaining a cleaner URL structure. Happy redirecting!