Distinguishing between directory and file page

[svcghost]

Hello guys,

Having some trouble. Given a URL, how can I use PHP to systematically distinguish between the end portion of a URL being a directory or static file / page, given the following example:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/2522432901

As you can see, there is no period in the end portion of the url, which would signify it being a directory. BUT the page IS a direct page, not a directory. 2522432901 is not a directory. Trying to visit the same URL with a trailing slash at the end succeeds in making a connection, but the page doesn't exist.

So how can I use PHP to verify that 2522432901 was not a directory, and that the current directory is "topic".

[AnthonySterling]

You cannot, the web server can map the URL to any resource it likes.

[svcghost]

Then how can my browser determine it if we can't find a way with PHP?

[AnthonySterling]

It doesn't, it just renders what it is presented to it by the web server.

[svcghost]

Oh I see. Well thank you for your feedback, friend.

Oh one thing, what exactly is the URL for that page then?

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/2522432901

Let's assume it uses PHP for a second. It must have a corresponding .php file that is displaying that info, so how is just a number ("2522432901") sufficing (as opposed to a question mark signifying a variable in the URL like /?2522432901)?

[Immerse]

The exact URL for that page is http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/2522432901]

They're probably using mod_rewrite to to rewrite the URL to something like:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/forum/index.php?lang=en&t=2522432901

Of course, their rewrite rules may be very different than that, and they might very well not be using PHP at all.