What are the potential challenges of using mod-rewrite for creating SEO-friendly URLs in PHP applications?

One potential challenge of using mod-rewrite for creating SEO-friendly URLs in PHP applications is ensuring that the rewrite rules are properly configured to handle different URL structures and parameters. It can be complex to manage and maintain these rules as the application grows and evolves. Additionally, incorrect configurations can lead to unexpected behavior or broken links. To address this challenge, it's important to carefully plan and test the rewrite rules to ensure they accurately map the desired URLs to the corresponding PHP scripts. Regularly reviewing and updating the rules can help prevent issues and maintain the SEO benefits of clean URLs.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^products/([0-9]+)$ product.php?id=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^category/([a-zA-Z0-9-]+)$ category.php?name=$1 [L]