How to Redirect TLD Domains to Language Parameter URLs via .htaccess

Learn how to effectively redirect TLDs like `example.fi` or `example.ru` to language-specific URLs (e.g., `example.fi/?lang=fi`) using `.htaccess`. Follow our step-by-step guide!
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Redirecting TLD Domains to Language Parameter URLs with .htaccess

Are you looking to redirect your international domains—such as example.fi or example.ru—to a specific language homepage? If you want users visiting these domains to automatically be sent to corresponding URLs that include a language parameter, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into how you can achieve this using your .htaccess file!

Understanding the Problem

The challenge is to set up a redirect that does the following:

Redirects your TLD domains like example.fi or example.ru to example.fi/?lang=fi.

Ensures that any paths entered after the domain (for instance, /foo) are also redirected to include the appropriate language parameter (e.g., example.fi/foo?lang=fi).

Replaces any existing lang parameter in the URL to avoid conflicts.

A Step-by-Step Solution

To implement your redirection effectively, follow these instructions to modify your .htaccess file.

Step 1: Editing the .htaccess File

You will need to place the following code snippet near the top of your .htaccess file:

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

Step 2: Code Explanation

Let’s break down what each part of this code does:

RewriteEngine On: This command enables the Rewrite module.

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?example.([^.]+ ): This condition checks if the request is coming from a specific domain (like your TLDs).

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING}@ @ %1 !^lang=([^.]+ )@ @ \1$: This checks if the existing query string doesn't already contain the proper lang parameter, avoiding unnecessary redirects.

RewriteRule (.*) /$1?lang=%1 [R=302,L]: If the conditions are met, this rule redirects the user to the same path but appends ?lang=<TLD>.

Step 3: Understanding the Redirect Behavior

With the above code in place, here are some scenarios and their results:

example.fi/ redirects to example.fi/?lang=fi

example.fi/foo redirects to example.fi/foo?lang=fi

example.fi/foo?lang=de redirects to example.fi/foo?lang=fi

example.fi/foo?lang=fi&bar=1 redirects to example.fi/foo?lang=fi, overwriting the existing query parameters.

Step 4: Choosing the Correct Redirect Type

The redirect set up in this code is a 302 (temporary redirect). If you want it to be permanent after confirming its effectiveness, change R=302 to R=301 for a permanent redirect.

For Homepage-Only Redirects

If your focus is specifically on redirecting just the homepage (root URL), you can modify the rewrite rule like this:

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

Conclusion

Redirecting TLD domains to specific URLs with language parameters can significantly enhance user experience, guiding visitors to the content best suited to them. By applying the techniques shared here, you can ensure that users land on the ideal homepage based on their language preference. If you encounter any issues or need clarification, feel free to ask for assistance!

Happy coding!