Apache rewriterule assistance needed

I am trying to remove query string: ?id= from this URL:

https://example.com/news-and-events/news/?id=/nodle/nodle-io/ledger-integration-update-compatibility-status-236699676dc6

and keep the page loading/working fine

I tried this:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^(.)?id=(.)?$ [NC]

RewriteRule ^(.*)?$ $1%2? [R=301,L]

it seems to strip the ?id= out fine but the page won't load, just 404s.

My issue is making the content load / carry over on the new URL.

https://example.com/news-and-events/news/nodle/nodle-io/ledger-integration-update-compatibility-status-236699676dc6

Any help appreciated,
Thanks
Rob

Was expecting URL to load fine and not 404, but with the shorter URL.

Updated Answer:

The / is missing because you probably have not declared the RewriteBase. As you are using the whole REQUEST_URI this one below in the code should do it.

Additionally the second bracket expression of the RewriteCond needs an * to provide the full QUERY_STRING (reduced by the search pattern id=/).

File: /news-and-events/news/.htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase "/news-and-events/news/"

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^(.)?id=/(.*)?$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)?$ $1%2? [R=301,L]

Simplyfied Version

File: /news-and-events/news/.htaccess:

RewriteBase /news-and-events/news/
RewriteCond "%{QUERY_STRING}" "^id=/(.*)" [NC]
RewriteRule "(.*)" "$1%1?" [R=301,L]

OR within your virtualhost.conf-file:

Here the context is essential:

<VirtualHost *:80>

	DocumentRoot "/var/www/vhosts/myhost/htdoc/"
	# Other directives
	
	# Only required once:
	RewriteEngine On
		
	<Directory "/var/www/vhosts/myhost/htdoc/news-and-events/news/">
		RewriteBase "/news-and-events/news/"
		RewriteCond "%{QUERY_STRING}" "^id=/(.*)" [NC]
		RewriteRule "(.*)" "$1%1?" [R=301,L]
	</Directory>
	
	# More <Directory> container
	
</VirtualHost>

BTW: It is a good habit to enclose the patterns in double quotes, even if not always necessary.

Some Comments

You match against QUERY_STRING:

QUERY_STRING = 'id=/nodle/nodle-io/ledger-integration-update-compatibility-status-236699676dc6'

It will always begin with the character after the ? in the URL.
So the match in the RewriteCond does not

As the regex is greedy and you select the whole string forcing the ^ start and $stop of the string is obsolete. Also making it optional by ? is unnecessary, as (.*) may evaluate to empty by itself.

Notes

• Meanwhile you've disclosed, that the code shall reside in a virtualhost.conf-file of the apache server.
• Also the configuration is not standalone but a sub-directory of a WordPress installation, that also uses some Rewrite rules.
  As you have enabled the directive for .htaccess, but want to write the rules in the virtualhost.conf-file.
• Using the propper <Directory> container is essential to prohibit cross-influences with your WordPress installation (in both directions).

AllowOverride All

you should first cleanup all possibly still existing previous "experiments" within .htaccess files to solve your problem.
— Really important!

But obviously your intent has been the inverse of that what has been your question:

• Apache hide query string in URL but keep URL working
• Php to remove query string in URL but keep URL working

So besides the fact, the presented solution does what you've asked, there is obviously no content at the rewritten URL and you end up with a 404 · Not found. HTML client error.

Doing something like this has its sense, when it comes to a changed URI-structure (i.e. because of a change of the serving software) and you want your visitors to be able to follow the content. Also by the HTML status code 301 · Moved permanently the search engines will quickly learn to use the new URI logic and keep the SEO up.