Dentsu – SEO Tools

.htaccess Tester

Test your .htaccess rewrite rules for HTTP redirects (server-side). This tool is leveraging the API developed by the madewithlove team; their original tool can be found at: htaccess.madewithlove.com.

.htaccess Tester Tool

The .htaccess Tester Tool is a free and powerful online utility that helps developers and website administrators test and debug their .htaccess configuration files in real time. It allows you to simulate URL requests, redirects, rewrites, and other Apache directives — without uploading the file to your live server.

The .htaccess file is a critical configuration file used by Apache web servers to control server behavior such as URL rewriting, redirects, security rules, custom error pages, and caching policies. A single typo can cause server errors or even make your entire website inaccessible — that’s why testing your .htaccess before deployment is essential.

🧩 Key Features

  • Instantly test RewriteRule and Redirect directives
  • Detect configuration syntax errors before uploading
  • Preview how Apache processes URL requests and matches rewrite patterns
  • Supports advanced directives like RewriteCond, RewriteBase, and ErrorDocument
  • Improves debugging speed for SEOs, web admins, and backend developers
  • Simulates real Apache environment with instant results

⚙️ How to Use the .htaccess Tester

1

Copy your existing .htaccess file or write your Apache configuration rules directly into the editor.

2

Enter the test URL or request path you want to simulate (e.g. /blog/post-1).

3

Click “Run Test” — the tool will instantly parse your configuration and display redirect or rewrite results.

4

Check for any errors or unexpected behavior. Adjust your rules as needed until everything works correctly.

5

Once verified, safely upload your final .htaccess file to your website’s root directory.

Pro Tips

  • ✅ Always test rewrite and redirect rules in a safe environment before deploying.
  • 🔍 Use this tool to verify RewriteCond regex patterns and avoid 404/500 errors.
  • 🛡️ Combine with your Robots.txt Generator and XML Sitemap Generator for best SEO hygiene.
<!– Example .htaccess Rules –>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

# Redirect old blog URLs to new structure
RewriteRule ^blog/(.*)$ /articles/$1 [L,R=301]
Type to search