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How to Handle Regex Redirects with Query Parameters in WordPress


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    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:

    1. Query strings are not included in the URI regex evaluation.
    2. 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:

    Code Snippets Example

    What the Code Does:

    1. Checks if the query parameters post_type and p are present in the URL.
    2. Confirms post_type=solution and p=1016.
    3. 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.

    Need some help?

    We all do sometimes. Please reach out to our support team by dropping us a support ticket. We will respond fast.