How can one ensure a smooth transition from HTML to PHP while maintaining SEO and user experience?
To ensure a smooth transition from HTML to PHP while maintaining SEO and user experience, one should use 301 redirects to redirect old HTML URLs to new PHP URLs. This will help search engines understand the change and prevent any loss in rankings. Additionally, make sure to update internal links and sitemaps to reflect the new PHP URLs for a seamless user experience.
<?php
// Redirect old HTML URLs to new PHP URLs
if (strpos($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], '.html') !== false) {
header('HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently');
header('Location: ' . str_replace('.html', '.php', $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']));
exit();
}
?>