Htaccess

/eɪtʃ tiː ˈækses/ noun

Definition

A configuration file used on Apache web servers to control access and behavior at the directory level. The filename stands for hypertext access.

Etymology

Modern computing term from the 1990s, combining 'ht' (hypertext) with 'access.' Created as Apache web server software needed a way to allow directory-level configuration without root server access.

Kelly Says

This humble dot-file (.htaccess) is one of the most powerful tools in web development - it can redirect traffic, password-protect directories, and rewrite URLs, all while being completely invisible to website visitors.

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