Generate Apache .htaccess configuration files with common rules for HTTPS redirects, www redirects, security headers, browser caching, GZIP compression, hotlink protection, and custom error pages. Simply check the options you need and copy the generated code.
.htaccess files control Apache web server behavior at the directory level. They handle URL redirects, pretty URLs (removing .php/.html extensions), security headers (CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options), access control (IP blocking, password protection), caching rules, CORS headers, and custom error pages. Writing .htaccess rules by hand is error-prone — a single syntax mistake can take down your entire site with a 500 error. This generator creates validated rules through a user-friendly interface. Common use cases include: HTTP to HTTPS redirect, www to non-www (or vice versa), blocking bad bots, enabling GZIP compression, setting browser caching, and adding security headers recommended by services like SecurityHeaders.com.
A configuration file for Apache HTTP Server that provides directory-level server configuration. The dot prefix makes it a hidden file on Unix systems. Changes take effect immediately without server restart.
No — .htaccess is Apache-specific. Nginx uses server configuration blocks (nginx.conf). Most .htaccess rules have Nginx equivalents but use different syntax. Many hosting panels offer Apache/Nginx configuration.
RewriteEngine On / RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off / RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]. This 301 (permanent) redirects all HTTP traffic to HTTPS. Essential for SSL security.
HTTP headers that protect against common attacks: Content-Security-Policy (XSS), Strict-Transport-Security (force HTTPS), X-Frame-Options (clickjacking), X-Content-Type-Options (MIME sniffing), Referrer-Policy (privacy).
Yes — Apache checks for .htaccess files in every directory for every request. For high-traffic sites, moving rules to the main Apache config (httpd.conf) is faster. For most sites, the impact is negligible.