help with URL handling

kbc1

I need help with my URL handling as I think my current method is not the best way to do it and understand preg_match would be?

I am building a small website and when the user hits the root of the domain (www.mydomain.com) I redirect the user as follows:

	if ($url == "" || $url == "blue") {
		header('location: http://www.mydomain.com/blue/home');
	}

So in the address bar at the top they see this URL and I deal with that request using the REQUEST_URI global array etc.

However (!) I am aware that preg_match would accomplish a similar outcome?

If this is so, could someone jot a bit of code down that would redirect my users to a_page.php if the last part of the URL was /blue/home ?

Thanks for any help provided

scrupul0us

sounds like u want mod_rewrite which would be better served in an apache forum

this can be done in PHP, but im not sure how efficient it would be

leatherback

use mod_rewrite functionality in apache.
Make sure you have the rewrite engine on, and the module enabled on your server. Place a file called .htaccess in the root of your server, with in it:


Options +FollowSymLinks

# Switch on the rewrite module
RewriteEngine On

# rewrite .../blue to .../blue/home
RewriteRule ^blue(/)?$ http://%{SERVER_NAME}/blue/home  [L]

#OR... not sure whether you need the first slash, perhaps this:
RewriteRule ^/blue(/)?$ http://%{SERVER_NAME}/blue/home  [L]

[/code]

Make sure you test .htaccess scripts on a non-live server, as errors in the rewrite can cause your server to enter a never-ending loop, requiring a server reboot!