.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, for instance if a 404 file not found error occurs, or for more advanced functions such as content password protection or image hot link prevention.
If you do not see .htaccess file, there might be 2 possible issues:
- This file is not created or uploaded to your public_html directory yet. Please create and upload it first.
- You may have configured your FTP client not to show hidden (dot) files. Please configure your FTP client to display these files.