How to Remove index.php with .htaccess in CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is a popular PHP framework known for its simplicity and flexibility in building web applications. By default, CodeIgniter URLs include “index.php” as part of the URL structure. However, removing “index.php” from the URLs can make them cleaner and more user-friendly. In this article, we will guide you through the process of removing “index.php” from your CodeIgniter URLs using the .htaccess file. By following these steps, you can enhance the aesthetics and accessibility of your web application.

1. Create or Locate the .htaccess File:
The .htaccess file is a configuration file that allows you to modify the behavior of the Apache web server. Start by locating the root directory of your CodeIgniter application and check if an .htaccess file already exists. If it doesn’t, you can create a new file and name it “.htaccess”.

2. Enable RewriteEngine:
Open the .htaccess file in a text editor and add the following line of code at the beginning of the file:

RewriteEngine On

This line enables the RewriteEngine module, which is necessary for URL rewriting.

3. Set the RewriteBase:
The RewriteBase directive specifies the base URL for the rewriting process. Add the following line to your .htaccess file, replacing “your_subdirectory” with the actual subdirectory of your CodeIgniter application:

RewriteBase /your_subdirectory/

If your application is located in the root directory, you can omit this line.

4. Remove index.php from URLs:
To remove “index.php” from your URLs, add the following set of code to your .htaccess file:

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php/$1 [L]

These lines of code check if the requested URL is not a file or a directory. If the condition is met, the URL is rewritten to include “index.php” as a prefix.

5. Save and Test:
Save the changes to your .htaccess file and upload it to the root directory of your CodeIgniter application. Make sure the file is named “.htaccess” exactly. Once uploaded, try accessing your CodeIgniter application without including “index.php” in the URL. If everything is set up correctly, the application should work as expected, and the “index.php” should be hidden from the URLs.

Conclusion:
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can remove “index.php” from the URLs of your CodeIgniter application, resulting in cleaner and more user-friendly URLs. The use of the .htaccess file and URL rewriting allows for a seamless user experience without compromising the functionality of your web application. Enjoy the benefits of cleaner URLs and improved accessibility in your CodeIgniter project.