Use backslash on basic rewrite?

[gemini181]

Sorry to ask the most basic question, but I've seen this done both ways.
For the simple .htaccess rewrite (eliminate www.) should I use the backslash?

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^domain.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://domain.com$1 [L,R=301]

or

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^domain.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://domain.com/$1 [L,R=301]

On one host they both seem to work, so which is better to use 'all the time'?

Thank you

 

[Canuckkev]

I've always had trouble with mod_rewrite. I can never figure it out, but sometimes it behaves differently on different hosts. Also, just a note, those are slashes, not backslashes.

I believe the first example you have provided is more correct, at least according to the examples provides here : http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_rewrite.html (near the bottom).

Though, that said, I took a look in my config and I used:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^domain\.com [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^$
RewriteRule ^/(.*) http://domain.com/$1 [L,R=301]


So I don't know. I'd say test it out on your current host, and whatever works best, use it. Be sure you aren't directing users to http://domain.com//