Handy .htaccess mod_rewrite rules

.htaccess

# This tag ensures the rewrite module is loaded
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
  # enable the rewrite engine
  RewriteEngine On
  # Set your root directory
  RewriteBase /

  # remove the .html extension
  RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^GET\ (.*)\.html\ HTTP
  RewriteRule (.*)\.html$ $1 [R=301]

  # remove index and reference the directory
  RewriteRule (.*)/index$ $1/ [R=301]

  # remove trailing slash if not a directory
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} /$
  RewriteRule (.*)/ $1 [R=301]

  # forward request to html file, **but don't redirect (bot friendly)**
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}.html -f
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !/$
  RewriteRule (.*) $1\.html [L]

  # redirect to preferred url - www.example.com
  RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com$ [NC]
  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

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

  RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.example.ca$ [NC]
  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
</IfModule>