Why its adding version_no in js and css url in magento2?

Question

On my local system I am setting up an project. All setup done and its not showing any error. But its not picking css/js.

I run the following commands but no one making effect to work -

sudo chmod -R 0777 var sudo chmod -R 0777 pub
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy
php bin/magento cache:flush
php bin/magento indexer:reindex

As I see the view source its adding versionNumber in url like -

pub/static/version1487053472/frontend/Cloudways/m2-theme/en_US/mage/calendar.css

and its showing 404 when I hit the url for respective css/js. And As I am checking respective css/js file to respective location without version1487053472, its available .

I am stuck ryt now, how to fix it. Please do a reply if you have any suggestion.

• Danny Nimmo: Are you using Apache or nginx? It could be that you are missing the required rewrite rules for signed version files to work.
• Jackson: core_config_data check for web url
• Atul: @DannyNimmo - I am using Apache, are saying about mod_rewrite its showing "Module rewrite already enabled"
• Danny Nimmo: You should check that you have the .htaccess file in the pub/static directory: github.com/magento/magento2/blob/2.1.4/pub/static/.htaccess This will add the rewrite for version URLS. Versions are for cachebusting static assets, you can read about cachebusting here: css-tricks.com/strategies-for-cache-busting-css

Answer 1

You need to turn off configuration option from backend.

Stores>Configuration>Advanced>Developer>Sign Static Files select No.

Save Config. Now check frontend version number will not display anymore in URLs.

Moreover you need to check .htaccess file in magento_root/pub/static, if it is not present please copy it from github. https://github.com/magento/magento2/blob/develop/pub/static/.htaccess

• Atul: Admin login page also not picking css. And once I made login below erros come - 3 exception(s): Exception #0 (ReflectionException): Class Magento\Authorization\Model\Acl\Role\GroupFactory does not exist Exception #1 (ReflectionException): Class Magento\Authorization\Model\Acl\Role\GroupFactory does not exist Exception #2 (RuntimeException): Can't create directory /var/www/html/git_projects/csep/var/generation/Magento/Authorization/Model/Acl/Role/.
• Atul: this works for me - in table 'core_config_data' setted 'dev/static/sign' to 0, then flush the cache using - php bin/magento cache:flush and its works now . Thanks Salma
• Atul: But still have question - Why its adding version-number ?whats the roll of it ?
• Salma Saiyad: Adding a digital signature to the URL of static files makes it possible for browsers to detect when a newer version of the file is available. If you have enabled browser caching it will help to detect newer version.
• Salma Saiyad: @ErSarveshVTiwari Please try this - In table 'core_config_data' setted 'dev/static/sign' to 0, then flush the cache using - php bin/magento cache:flush and its works now

Answer 2

This should actually not lead to a 404 error - you should check your .htaccess in pub/static/ - did you maybe accidentially delete it?

As Salma Saiyad points out in the other answer's comment, this is a actually feature - to use updated files despite of the browser cache on deploys.

• Atul: thx Alex for clarification............ :)