What does a great htaccess file look like, with examples

An .htaccess file is used to configure settings for Apache web servers. It allows you to control various aspects of the server, including URL redirection, security settings, and caching policies. Here are some examples and explanations of common configurations that might be used for a blog:

Basic Structure

1. Enable Rewrite Engine

   apache
   Copy code
   RewriteEngine On
   

2. Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

   Ensures all traffic is encrypted.

   apache
   Copy code
   RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
   

3. Remove WWW

   Redirects all traffic from www.example.com to example.com.

   apache
   Copy code
   RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.*)$ [NC]
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://%1/$1 [R=301,L]
   

4. Pretty Permalinks

   Useful for making blog URLs clean and SEO-friendly.

   apache
   Copy code
   RewriteRule ^article/([0-9]+)/([a-zA-Z0-9-]+)/?$ /article.php?id=$1&title=$2 [L,QSA]
   

5. Block Access to Sensitive Files

   Prevents access to .htaccess, .htpasswd, and other sensitive files.

   apache
   Copy code
   <Files .htaccess>
       Order allow,deny
       Deny from all
   </Files>
   

6. Set Custom Error Pages

   Provides custom error pages for a better user experience.

   apache
   Copy code
   ErrorDocument 404 /404.html
   ErrorDocument 403 /403.html
   

Example .htaccess File for a Blog

apache
Copy code
# Enable Rewrite Engine
RewriteEngine On

# Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

# Remove WWW
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.*)$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://%1/$1 [R=301,L]

# Pretty Permalinks
RewriteRule ^article/([0-9]+)/([a-zA-Z0-9-]+)/?$ /article.php?id=$1&title=$2 [L,QSA]

# Block Access to Sensitive Files
<Files .htaccess>
    Order allow,deny
    Deny from all
</Files>

# Set Custom Error Pages
ErrorDocument 404 /404.html
ErrorDocument 403 /403.html

# Cache Control
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
    ExpiresActive On
    ExpiresByType image/jpg "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType application/pdf "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType text/x-javascript "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash "access plus 1 month"
    ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access plus 1 year"
    ExpiresDefault "access plus 2 days"
</IfModule>

# Compression
<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
    AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/plain text/xml text/css text/javascript application/javascript application/x-javascript application/json
</IfModule>

# Prevent Directory Browsing
Options -Indexes

Explanation of Additional Features

• Cache Control: Sets expiration headers for different file types, improving load times for returning visitors.
• Compression: Enables Gzip compression for text-based files, reducing the amount of data transferred.
• Prevent Directory Browsing: Disables directory listings to improve security.

By customizing your .htaccess file, you can enhance your blog's performance, security, and SEO. Always test your .htaccess file after making changes to ensure your site functions correctly.