What should be in a .htaccess file
Lucas Hayes
Updated on April 11, 2026
htaccess file is an Apache HTTP Server (normally just called Apache) configuration file. The file is extremely powerful and can be used to help control multiple facets of web pages that are served up by Apache. This includes things like managing redirects, hotlink protection and more.
What should I put in my htaccess file?
- Add redirections for certain URLs.
- Load custom error pages, like 404 pages.
- Force your site to use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Password-protect certain directories on your server.
- Prevent hotlinking.
What information does .htaccess file of WordPress contain?
htaccess file is a server configuration file which tells your server how to handle certain things on your website. Like how to redirect users, password protect admin area, or protect some directories, etc. It is located in your WordPress site’s root folder. WordPress uses it to manage redirects and permalinks.
How do I create a .htaccess file?
- Click the New File button in the upper menu.
- Enter . htaccess as the file name, insert the code below and press Create to save your changes. # BEGIN WordPress. <IfModule mod_rewrite. c> RewriteEngine On. RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index. php$ – [L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f.
What is the function of .htaccess file?
htaccess files provide a way to make configuration changes on a per-directory basis. Essentially, it allows you to take directives that would normally be put in Apache’s main configuration files, and put them in a directory-specific configuration file instead.
How many htaccess files should I have?
There should be one . htaccess file in your web host root folder – the folder (usually /public_html or /www) that holds the content of your website. You can have more than one . htaccess file on your hosting account, but each directory or folder can only have one.
Can I put htaccess in a subfolder?
In order to also set up your main domain to use a subdirectory on your hosting account, you will need to set up a redirect in the . htaccess file in the public_html folder so that the server knows that any request for your main domain will be redirected to a subdirectory on public_html.
Do you need a htaccess file?
If you are using shared hosting you will likely need to use a .htaccess file to make configuration changes to your server. If you are using a virtual private server or a dedicated server, you should have access to the main server configuration file (usually called httpd. conf).What language is htaccess written in?
htaccess files are written in the Apache programming language.
Where is .htaccess apache2?htaccess file can be found at /opt/bitnami/APPNAME/. htaccess. Some applications do not have the /opt/bitnami/apache2/conf/vhosts/htaccess/APPNAME-htaccess. conf file.
Article first time published onWhat permissions should .htaccess have WordPress?
htaccess permissions is 644, which is what the WordPress Codex recommends. Some developers also recommend 444. However, if you use 444, it might restrict plugins that need to write to the . htaccess file (such as most caching plugins).
Where should htaccess file be located in WordPress?
WordPress htaccess location The WordPress . htaccess file is located in the root directory of your WordPress site. Depending on your hosting provider, the root directory may be a folder labelled public_html, www, htdocs, or httpdocs. You can locate it by using File Manager in your hosting account’s cpanel.
How do I regenerate a .htaccess file in WordPress?
- # BEGIN WordPress.
- <IfModule mod_rewrite. c>
- RewriteEngine On.
- RewriteBase /
- RewriteRule ^index. php$ – [L]
- RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f.
- RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d.
- RewriteRule . / index. php [L]
Does PHP use htaccess?
htaccess using PHP’s built-in webserver (it is not relying on apache, it is implemented entirely in PHP’s core).
What is .htaccess file in SEO?
htaccess file to improve your websites technical search engine optimization (SEO). … htaccess file is a distributed server configuration file for the Apache webserver. You can use it to create redirects, modify HTTP headers, manage crawling, and so much more!
How do I know if .htaccess is working?
- Download the script here: htaccess_tester. php on GitHub.
- Rename it to htaccess_tester. php , if needed.
- Place it in the folder where you’ve put Bolt.
- Create a . htaccess file with the contents as below.
How do I redirect one domain to another in htaccess?
- Login to cPanel.
- Click the Redirects button in the Domains section.
- You will then be on the Add Redirect page. …
- Click the next drop-down box and choose the domain you want to redirect.
- For the slash ‘/’ field, enter any folder names (if necessary).
What is rewrite base?
RewriteBase is a useful server directive available for Apache web server that allows you to easily update numerous rewrite rules at one go. In this article, we will look at what is RewriteBase and how it works, with examples.
How do I redirect a domain to a folder?
- Create a file called . …
- Open the file and add the following 2 lines: …
- Replace the word “shop” with the name of your subfolder.
- Save the file and test your website to make sure it works as expected.
What is RewriteOptions inherit?
With the RewriteOptions inherit option, any rewrite rules in a parent directory are essentially appended to the end of any rules in the sub directory. Apache 2.4 has an additional option of appending them before or after the rules in the sub directory. The directive will only affect mod_rewrite and rewrite rules.
How do I change the permissions on a .htaccess file?
File permissions for . htaccess should be set to 755 . There should be a “File Permissions” option in your FTP client. Alternatively, you can run the command chmod 755 .
What is a Htpasswd file?
htpasswd is used to create and update the flat-files used to store usernames and password for basic authentication of HTTP users. … This program can only manage usernames and passwords stored in a flat-file. It can encrypt and display password information for use in other types of data stores, though.
What is rewrite rule in htaccess?
htaccess rewrite rule includes setting a combination of rewrite condition ( RewriteCond ) tests along with a corresponding rule ( RewriteRule ) if the prior conditions pass. In most cases, these rules should be placed at any point after the RewriteEngine on line in the . htaccess file located in the website’s docroot.
Does htaccess slow site down?
htaccess files slows down your Apache http server. Any directive that you can include in a . htaccess file is better set in a Directory block, as it will have the same effect with better performance.”
What is AllowOverride all in Apache?
Apache has an option called “AllowOverride” which allows you to override some Apache settings via a . htaccess file you can place in a directory. In it, you can override PHP settings, create URL rewrites, … Pretty much the basics for every website.
Does Nginx use htaccess?
Nginx does not use . htaccess files like Apache does. This means that configuration previously done in. files now has to be done in a different format, explained in the Nginx documentation.
How do I edit a .htaccess file in Linux?
htaccess file in File Manager. Right-click on the . htaccess file in the right-hand pane of File Manager and select Edit from the pop-up menu. Click the Edit button on the pop-up dialog box.
Where is htaccess in Ubuntu?
htaccess files. On Linux the main server configuration file is usually at /etc/apache2/httpd. conf or /etc/apache2/apache2. conf , and it typically uses an Include directive to incorporate other files which may be in subdirectories of /etc/apache2 .
Where is my .htaccess file xampp?
htaccess file is usually present in your C:/xampp/htdocs/wordpress if you are in windows or /opt/lampp/htdocs/wordpress if you are on linux or mac if you can’t find it simply… ( for Windows ) enable show hidden files in file manager…
Who should own WordPress files?
All files should be owned by the actual user’s account, not the user account used for the httpd process. Group ownership is irrelevant, unless there’s specific group requirements for the web-server process permissions checking. This is not usually the case. All directories should be 755 or 750.
What is the octal value of Execute permission?
Octal ValueFile Permissions SetPermissions Description1–xExecute permission only2-w-Write permission only3-wxWrite and execute permissions4r–Read permission only