How to use .htaccess file

[Antarjot]

Can any one tell me how to use the .htaccess file? I know .htaccess it is not a file extension and it is a web server directive file. What can we do with the .htaccess file? How it is created and i also wanted to know the language which is use to write .htaccess file. Any help will be extremely appreciated.

[Calvin K]

The .htaccess is the filename in full, it is not a file extension. For instance, you would not create a file called, 'file.htaccess', it is simply called, '.htaccess'. .htaccess files provide a way to make configuration changes on a per-directory basis. A file, containing one or more configuration directives, is placed in a particular document directory, and the directives apply to that directory, and all subdirectories thereof.

[Lillebror]

When you put configuration directives in a .htaccess file, and you don't get the desired effect, there are a number of things that may be going wrong. Some webhosts (and some Internet Providers) allow you to either use Frontpage Extensions or a so called .htaccess file.

[Wynn]

.htaccess is a web server directive file populalrly used in Apache Web Server in Linux / Unix environment. In windows environment there is a simple way to enable and use .htaccess. In several web servers (most commonly Apache), .htaccess (hypertext access) is the default name of a directory-level configuration file that allows for decentralized management of web server configuration. Additionally it allows you to create nice permalinks for software like WordPress or phpBB.