How can I escape slash sign `/` in Apache `` directive's regex?

Question

I wanted to serve .xhtml files as

Then, I tried

<Files "*.xhtml">
    <If "%{HTTP:Accept} !~ /application\/xhtml\+xml/">
        ForceType text/html
    </If>
</Files>

But I get a syntax error: Failed to compile regular expression.

Meanwhile, I use this code...

<Files "*.xhtml">
    <If "%{HTTP:Accept} !~ /xhtml\+xml/">
        ForceType text/html
    </If>
</Files>

... which works, but I want to match the correct MIME type.

score 13 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 01 '16 at 03:28

13

It looks like improving this is still under construction as of Apache 2.4. Apache team member "covener" recommends m#regexp# instead.

So your code would look like this...

<If "%{HTTP:Accept} !~ m#application/xhtml\+xml#">

edited Sep 01 '16 at 03:28

Simon East

answered May 31 '15 at 17:32

lkraav

2

I can't see that comment_3455 by Covener. But the [Other](http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/expr.html#other) section says `m#regexp#` is an alternative of `/regexp/`. – Oriol May 31 '15 at 19:15
Strange, the anchor shoots me directly to the correct discussion reply. But also great find on the official Other documentation table. – lkraav May 31 '15 at 19:32
1

`m#regexp#` works well for me when evaluating against `REQUEST_URI`, which will have forward slashes in a typical scenario. – RjOllos Jun 07 '15 at 07:31
This answer is correct. But there are indeed no comments onthe linked page at all. And for sure not a comment by some Apache developer. – feeela Feb 28 '22 at 10:18
Yeah, comments section seems to be gone. Can't even find it archive.org snapshots. I'm fairly certain I didn't just invent `#comment_3455` anchor link at the time, Apache docs used to have a commenting section for sure. – lkraav Mar 02 '22 at 07:55

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 28 '13 at 18:29

12

You could use an escape code like \x2F instead of the /.

answered Feb 28 '13 at 18:29

Qtax

2 Answers2