Want to improve your website’s URL structure? Follow this step-by-step guide on how to remove .html from URLs using .htaccess, , or manual methods. Plus, learn best practices for testing and updating internal links.
Understanding .html in URLs
When you type in a URL to visit a website, you might have noticed that some URLs end with “.html” while others do not. So, what is .html in URLs?
.HTML is a file extension that stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create web pages. When a web page is created using HTML, it is saved with the .html file extension.
Now, why would someone want to remove .html from URLs? There are a few reasons.
Why remove .html from URLs?
Firstly, removing .html from URLs can make them shorter and more user-friendly. Short and simple URLs are easier to remember and share. They look cleaner and more professional.
Secondly, removing .html from URLs can make them easier to read and understand. When a user sees a URL that ends with .html, it might not be clear what the page is about. Removing the extension can help clarify the purpose of the page.
Thirdly, removing .html from URLs can improve SEO. Search engines like Google use URLs as a way to understand what a page is about. Removing .html can help search engines better understand the content of the page.
What is .html in URLs?
.HTML is a file extension that stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create web pages. When a web page is created using HTML, it is saved with the .html file extension.
However, the extension is not necessary for a web page to function properly. In fact, web servers can serve HTML pages without the .html extension.
How to Remove .html from URLs
Now that you understand what .html in URLs is and why it might be useful to remove it, let’s explore how to do so.
Using .htaccess to remove .html
One way to remove .html from URLs is by using the .htaccess file on your web server. The .htaccess file is a configuration file that allows you to modify the behavior of your web server.
To remove .html from URLs using .htaccess, you will need to add some code to the file. Here is an example of the code you can use:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.html [NC,L]This code will remove the .html extension from all URLs on your website.
Using to remove .html
Another way to remove .html from URLs is by using a plugin. If you are using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, there are plugins available that can help you remove the .html extension from your URLs.
For example, the “Remove .html From URL” plugin for WordPress can automatically remove the .html extension from your URLs.
Manually removing .html from URLs
Finally, you can manually remove .html from your URLs. This involves renaming all of your HTML files to remove the .html extension and updating all of your internal links to reflect the change.
While this method can be time-consuming, it gives you complete control over the process and can be useful if you want to make other changes to your URLs at the same time.
Testing the New URLs
Once you have removed .html from your URLs, it’s important to test them to make sure everything is working properly.
Checking for broken links
One thing to check for is broken links. When you remove .html from your URLs, any internal or external links that point to the old URLs will no longer work. You will need to update these links to point to the new URLs.
Testing redirects
If you have set up redirects to automatically send users from the old URLs to the new URLs, you will need to test these redirects to make sure they are working as expected.
Verifying changes in search engines
Finally, you should check to make sure that search engines have updated their indexes with your new URLs. You can do this by searching for your website on Google and checking the URLs that are displayed in the search results.
Best Practices for Removing .html from URLs
Now that you know how to remove .html from your URLs and how to test the new URLs, let’s explore some best practices to follow.
Updating internal links
When you remove .html from your URLs, you will need to update all of your internal links to reflect the change. This includes links in your navigation menu, links in your content, and links in your footer.
Creating a 301 redirect
To ensure that any external links to your old URLs still work, you should set up a 301 redirect. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells search engines and other websites that the content has moved permanently to a new URL.
Keeping backups of old URLs
Finally, it’s always a good idea to keep backups of your old URLs. This can help you to restore your old URLs if something goes wrong with the new URLs.
Conclusion
By using .htaccess, plugins, or manually removing .html, you can remove the extension from your URLs.
It’s important to test your new URLs to make sure everything is working properly and to follow best practices like updating internal links, creating a 301 redirect, and keeping backups of your old URLs.
How to Remove .html from URLs
If you are looking to improve your website’s SEO, removing .html from your URLs is a great place to start. Not only does it make your URLs look cleaner and more professional, but it can also improve your website’s user experience.
There are three main ways to remove .html from your URLs: using .htaccess, using plugins, or manually removing it. Let’s explore each option in more detail.
Using .htaccess to remove .html
Using .htaccess is a popular method of removing .html from URLs. It involves editing a file on your server that controls how your website behaves. Here is how you can use .htaccess to remove .html from your URLs:
- Log in to your server using an FTP client.
- Locate the .htaccess file in your website’s root directory.
- Add the following code to the file:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.html [NC,L]Save the file and upload it to your server.
This code tells the server to remove the .html extension from all URLs except those that correspond to actual files. For example, if you have a page called “about.html”, the URL will now be “example.com/about”.
Using to remove .html
If you are not comfortable editing .htaccess or do not have access to your server, using a plugin is a great alternative. Many content management systems, such as WordPress, offer plugins that can remove .html from your URLs with just a few clicks.
To use a plugin to remove .html from your URLs, follow these steps:
- Install and activate the plugin on your website.
- Navigate to the plugin’s settings page.
- Look for an option to remove .html from URLs.
- Enable the option and save your changes.
The plugin will automatically remove .html from all your URLs, making them more user-friendly and SEO-friendly.
Manually removing .html from URLs
If you have a small website with only a few pages, you can also manually remove .html from your URLs. This method involves renaming each file on your server to remove the .html extension.
To manually remove .html from your URLs, follow these steps:
- Log in to your server using an FTP client.
- Locate the file you want to rename.
- Rename the file to remove the .html extension.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all files on your server.
This method can be time-consuming if you have a large website, but it is a great option if you want complete control over your URLs.
Testing the New URLs
When you remove the .html extension from your URLs, it’s important to test the new URLs to make sure everything is working smoothly. This process involves checking for broken links, testing redirects, and verifying changes in search engines.
Checking for Broken Links
One of the first things you should do when testing your new URLs is to check for broken links. Broken links can negatively impact user experience and hurt your search engine rankings. You can use a tool like Google Search Console or a third-party tool like Broken Link Checker to identify broken links on your website.
Once you’ve identified broken links, you should fix them by either updating the link or removing it altogether. Make sure to test the link after making the necessary changes to ensure it’s working properly.
Testing Redirects
If you’ve set up redirects to point your old .html URLs to your new URLs without the extension, it’s important to test them to make sure they’re working correctly. You can use a tool like Redirect Checker to test your redirects and ensure they’re redirecting users to the correct page.
If you find that your redirects aren’t working properly, you’ll need to troubleshoot the issue and fix any errors. Make sure to test your redirects again after making any changes to ensure they’re working properly.
Verifying Changes in Search Engines
After you’ve removed the .html extension from your URLs, it’s important to verify the changes in search engines. This involves checking to see if your new URLs are being indexed properly and if your search engine rankings have been impacted.
You can use Google Search Console to monitor your website’s performance in search engines. Check to see if your new URLs are being indexed and if your search engine rankings have been impacted. If you notice any issues, you may need to make additional changes to your website and continue monitoring its performance.
Best Practices for Removing .html from URLs
As we’ve previously discussed, removing .html from URLs can have a significant impact on the user experience and search engine optimization of your website. However, it’s important to follow best practices when making this change to avoid any negative consequences. In this section, we’ll go over three best practices for removing .html from URLs: updating internal links, creating a 301 redirect, and keeping backups of old URLs.
Updating Internal Links
One of the first steps you should take when removing .html from URLs is to update your internal links. This means going through your website’s content and changing any links that point to pages with the .html extension to the new URLs without the extension. This is important because broken links can harm your website’s SEO and user experience.
To make this process easier, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog to crawl your website and identify any broken links. Once you have a list of broken links, you can easily update them to point to the new URLs. It’s also a good idea to update any anchor text that includes the .html extension to the new URLs.
Creating a 301 Redirect
Another best practice for removing .html from URLs is to create a 301 redirect from the old URLs to the new URLs. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells search engines and users that the old URL has been replaced with a new one. This ensures that any traffic or link juice that was going to the old URL is redirected to the new URL.
To create a 301 redirect, you can use your website’s .htaccess file. Simply add the following code to the file:
redirect 301 /old-page.html http://www.yourwebsite.com/new-pageThis code tells the server to redirect any requests for the old-page.html URL to the new-page URL.
Keeping Backups of Old URLs
Finally, it’s important to keep backups of your old URLs just in case something goes wrong during the transition. This is especially important if you have a large website with many pages. Keeping backups will allow you to easily revert back to the old URLs if needed.
To keep backups of your old URLs, you can create a spreadsheet that lists all of the old URLs and their corresponding new URLs. You can also take screenshots of the old pages and save them in a backup folder.
Conclusion
After exploring the ins and outs of .html in URLs and learning how to remove it, it’s time to review the benefits of making this change. By removing .html from URLs, you can improve the user experience, boost your search engine rankings, and make your website more accessible to users across different devices.
Reviewing the Benefits of Removing .html from URLs
One of the primary benefits of removing .html from URLs is that it makes your website more user-friendly. When users see clean, simple URLs, they’re more likely to trust your website and stick around to explore more. Additionally, removing .html can make your URLs shorter and easier to remember, which can be especially helpful for mobile users who are on-the-go.
Another benefit of removing .html is that it can improve your search engine rankings. Google and other search engines favor clean, simple URLs that are easy to crawl and index. By removing .html, you can make it easier for search engines to understand your website’s content and rank it higher in search results.
Finally, removing .html can make your website more accessible to users across different devices. When users access your website from a mobile device or tablet, the .html extension can take up valuable screen real estate and make it harder to navigate. By removing .html, you can create a more streamlined experience that works well on all devices.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
If you’re considering removing .html from your website’s URLs, there are a few key best practices to keep in mind. First, be sure to update all of your internal links to reflect the new URLs. This will ensure that users are directed to the correct pages and that your rankings aren’t negatively impacted by broken links.
Next, consider creating a 301 redirect for all of your old URLs. This will help to ensure that any link equity you’ve built up over time is passed on to your new URLs. Additionally, keeping backups of your old URLs can be helpful in case anything goes wrong during the transition.
Overall, removing .html from your website’s URLs can be a simple and effective way to improve the user experience, boost your search engine rankings, and make your website more accessible. By following best practices and testing your new URLs thoroughly, you can make this change with confidence and reap the benefits for years to come.
