Best file extension when using php - .php or .html?

Hi all,

I've done some research and I think I have the answer but I wanted to get some views from everyone on this forum.

I have a site that is html but uses some php (for addlogger). I've been trying to decide if the pages should have html file extension and use the tags for PHP or if they should just use the PHP file extension.

Main considerations are performance and SEO.

I'm going for PHP as an extension even though the pages are mostly plain HTML, what are your thoughts?

PS - I'm aware that you can edit the htaccess to get html files parsed as php. Also note that the site is very small with only around 12 pages so it's not an issue to change the file extensions and links.

 

as long as it something like this: page.php
there is no difference.

 

i have seen php page with .html extension at some website, i don't remember but really i am sure it is possible to use php with .html ext

 

it is but you need to put a 1 line code in htaccess files!

 

It depends if you have any true HTML files.

If you do then making all files have a html extension will slow things down by a tiny amount as the PHP engine will have to check all files for PHP rather than just the PHP files.

From a search engine perspective there is no difference what so ever.

From a usability, if people are sharing links they are most likely going to assume a file extension is html rather than php/ asp/ aspx/ cfm/ jsp etc

 

Google used to like static files better, this was true some years ago but I don't know if it's still true today. If it's still true today php pages that seem to be static pages will rank higher.

 

Although I'm using php the pages are static, with static URLs.

Useability is a good point, many people do assume that the extension is html rather than php.

I think I'm going to stick with using the php extension, which I think for my situation is the right choice.

 

Google has never liked attributes at the end of urls as was the traditional way of doing dynamic pages prior to URL rewritting becoming common place but I have never seen any evidence that if you simply add .php or .asp .doggy at the end of a URL your rankings suddenly drop.

 

I mod_rewrite all php pages to a directory-like structure and add an html page at the end of each url.

 

Use the actual ".php" extension. If you want you can later on manipulate to get .html without much hassles via mod_rewrite.

 

Thanks to everyone for your help, your replies have been very useful and given me some things to think about.