What is the .htaccess

.htaccess is a configuration file for use on web servers running the Apache Web Server software. When a .htaccess file is placed in a directory which is in turn 'loaded via the Apache Web Server', then the .htaccess file is detected and executed by the Apache Web Server software. These .htaccess files can be used to alter the configuration of the Apache Web Server software to enable/disable additional functionality and features that the Apache Web Server software has to offer. These facilities include basic redirect functionality, Error Document, file protect and many more ..

Where Is the .htaccess File?

.htaccess file location is most commonly found in your website's public_html folder.

Why Can’t I Find My .htaccess File?

There are two common reasons for not finding the .htaccess file in your website’s root folder. It’s either hidden by your file manager software, or it doesn’t exist at all.

How to Change Path or overwrite

DirectoryIndex  index.html

ErrorDocument

ErrorDocument 500 "Sorry, our script crashed. Oh dear"

ErrorDocument 500 /cgi-bin/crash-recover

ErrorDocument 500 http://error.example.com/server_error.html

ErrorDocument 404 /htaccess/errors/error_404.html

ErrorDocument 401 /subscription/how_to_subscribe.html

Enable or Disable Directory

If we xyz.html indexing file then our directory is showing so its important to hide

Options -Indexes

Options +Indexes  

hide file directory browsing

suppose we protect some extension file like jpg , pdf that time we can use

IndexIgnore  *.pdf *.jpg*png

Suppose use IndexIgnore *

Enable or Disable Directory is work but that time not work 404 error

Block access specific website 

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} youtube\.com  [NC]

RewriteRule .* - [F]

Remove Index.php file

You can use the htaccess file frame work like coordinator, Laravel 

RewriteEngine on

#RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

#RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

#RewriteRule .* index.php/$0 [PT,L]

Remove .html/.php Extension

Options +MultiViews

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteRule ^([^\.]+)$ $1.html [NC,L]

Leverage browser caching

ExpiresActive On

ExpiresDefault "access plus 1 year"

ExpiresByType text/html "access plus 1 seconds"

ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 1 year"

ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 month"

ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 2592000 seconds"

ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 604800 seconds"

ExpiresByType text/javascript "access plus 216000 seconds"

ExpiresByType application/x-javascript "access plus 216000 seconds"