How to Handle Regex Redirects with Query Parameters in WordPress
Staq supports regex-based redirects for URI patterns but does not support redirects that include query parameters (e.g., ?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
). This limitation arises because regex rules are applied only to the URI, not to the query string (the part after ?
). This guide explains why these cases aren’t supported by Nginx regex rules and provides a solution using PHP for handling such redirects.
Why Query Parameters Aren’t Supported in Regex Redirect Rules
Staq’s redirect rules focus on URI matching only. When dealing with query strings (like ?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
), additional parsing is required. This is beyond the scope of Nginx’s native capabilities for regex matching.
Example of Unsupported Redirects:
/index.php?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
→/our-solutions/
/index.php?post_type=example
→/new-page
In the above examples, Nginx is unable to process the query string (post_type=solution#038;p=1016
) as part of the regex rule because:
- Query strings are not included in the URI regex evaluation.
- Supporting such redirects would require extensive custom parsing and could lead to configuration complexity.
Alternative Solution: Use PHP for Query Parameter Redirects
To handle redirects that rely on query parameters, such as ?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
, you can implement a PHP-based solution within WordPress.
Example PHP Code Snippet
You can add the below code in either:
- your child theme’s functions.php file; OR
- if you don’t have a child theme, install the Code Snippets plugin
Add this code:
add_action('template_redirect', function () {
if (isset($_GET['post_type']) && preg_match('/^solution/', $_GET['post_type'])) {
wp_redirect(home_url('/our-solutions'), 301);
exit;
}
});
If you had used Code Snippet, this is how it looks like inside their plugin:
What the Code Does:
- Checks if the query parameters
post_type
andp
are present in the URL. - Confirms
post_type=solution
andp=1016
. - Redirects the user to
/our-solutions
with a 301 status code.
Limitations and Nginx Regex Rules
While PHP provides a flexible solution for query-based redirects, regex rules in Nginx only apply to the URI portion of the URL. For example:
- Supported:
/page-name
→/new-page
- Not Supported:
/index.php?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
Conclusion
For redirects involving query parameters, such as ?post_type=solution#038;p=1016
, PHP is the most efficient and reliable approach. Use the provided code snippet or the Code Snippets plugin to implement these redirects seamlessly.
If you encounter any challenges or have more complex redirect needs, reach out to our support team for further assistance.
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