Apache .htaccess
Apache .htaccess is a configuration file used by the Apache web server to apply directory-level settings without modifying the main server configuration. It allows developers to control aspects like URL rewriting, access control, error handling, and caching for specific directories or websites. This file is commonly used in shared hosting environments where direct server configuration access is restricted.
Developers should learn .htaccess when working with Apache-hosted websites, especially in shared hosting scenarios, to implement security measures, SEO-friendly URLs via mod_rewrite, and custom error pages. It's essential for tasks like redirecting URLs, blocking IP addresses, enabling compression, and setting up password protection without server admin privileges.