How to Remove the .aspx from ASP.NET URL'S and How to Cut the URL's in Short Form

Hiding (Removing) .ASPX Extension in URL in ASP.NET

In ASP.NET, URLs ending with .aspx are common, but sometimes, for aesthetic, SEO, or security reasons, you might want to remove the .aspx extension from your URLs. This article will guide you through various methods to achieve this.

Why Remove the .ASPX Extension?

1. User Experience: Clean URLs are easier to read and remember.
2. SEO: Search engines prefer clean URLs which can improve your site's SEO.
3. Security: Hiding the file extensions can add a layer of obscurity to your website, making it slightly harder for attackers to determine the technology used.

Methods to Remove .ASPX Extension

1. URL Rewriting with UrlRewrite Module

Step 1: Install the URL Rewrite Module

First, you need to install the URL Rewrite module if it is not already installed. You can download it from the IIS website.

Step 2: Configure web.config

Add the following configuration in your web.config file to rewrite URLs:

<configuration>

  <system.webServer>

    <rewrite>

      <rules>

        <rule name="RemoveASPX" stopProcessing="true">

          <match url="^(.*)$" />

          <conditions>

            <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsFile" negate="true" />

            <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsDirectory" negate="true" />

          </conditions>

          <action type="Rewrite" url="{R:1}.aspx" />

        </rule>

      </rules>

    </rewrite>

  </system.webServer>

</configuration>

This rule rewrites all incoming requests by appending .aspx to the URL if it does not correspond to an existing file or directory.

2. Route Configuration in Global.asax

Another way to hide the .aspx extension is by configuring routes in the Global.asax file.

Step 1: Define Routes

In the Global.asax file, add the following code to the Application_Start method:

void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs e) 

{

    RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);

}

public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)

{

    routes.MapPageRoute("DefaultRoute", "{page}", "~/default.aspx");

}

This code maps URLs without the .aspx extension to the corresponding .aspx page.

Step 2: Create URL Mapping

You can create specific routes for each page or a general route:

public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)

{

    routes.MapPageRoute("HomeRoute", "home", "~/home.aspx");

    routes.MapPageRoute("AboutRoute", "about", "~/about.aspx");

    routes.MapPageRoute("ContactRoute", "contact", "~/contact.aspx");

}

3. Use MVC Routing

If you are using ASP.NET MVC, routing can be easily handled in the RouteConfig.cs file.

Step 1: Configure Routes in RouteConfig.cs

In the App_Start folder, open RouteConfig.cs and configure your routes:

public class RouteConfig

{

    public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)

    {

        routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");

        routes.MapRoute(

            name: "Default",

            url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",

            defaults: new { controller = "Home", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }

        );

    }

}

This configuration allows URLs like /Home/Index instead of /Home/Index.aspx.

4. Custom HttpModule

You can also create a custom HttpModule to handle URL rewriting.

Step 1: Create the HttpModule

Create a new class UrlRewriteModule:

public class UrlRewriteModule : IHttpModule

{

    public void Init(HttpApplication context)

    {

        context.BeginRequest += new EventHandler(OnBeginRequest);

    }

    private void OnBeginRequest(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        HttpApplication application = (HttpApplication)sender;

        HttpContext context = application.Context;

        string path = context.Request.Path.ToLower();

        if (!path.EndsWith(".aspx") && !path.Contains("."))

        {

            context.RewritePath(path + ".aspx");

        }

    }

    public void Dispose() { }

}

Step 2: Register the HttpModule

In the web.config file, register the HttpModule:

<configuration>

  <system.webServer>

    <modules>

      <add name="UrlRewriteModule" type="Namespace.UrlRewriteModule, AssemblyName"/>

    </modules>

  </system.webServer>

</configuration>

Replace Namespace with the actual namespace of your UrlRewriteModule class and AssemblyName with the name of your assembly.

Conclusion

Removing the .aspx extension from your URLs can enhance the user experience, improve SEO, and add a layer of security. Depending on your setup and requirements, you can choose from various methods such as URL rewriting, route configuration, MVC routing, or custom HttpModules. By implementing these techniques, you can ensure that your ASP.NET web application has clean and user-friendly URLs.