What is an .htaccess file?

An .htaccess file is a file that alters the configuration of the folder it is placed in, and all the sub folders underneath it.  It is a method of controlling the configuration of your web space when you do not have server admin privileges and cannot make server wide changes (or when you do have server admin but you don?t want to affect the whole server!).

The file begins with a . because it makes the file hidden by default ? as the files determine how the web space functions, it is important that the file is protected!  There are many different ways of using an .htaccess file ? in some programs, for instance, they are used throughout the file structure to change the configuration at specific levels.  There are many tutorials available online explaining how to use .htaccess.