What is an .htaccess file?

An .htaccess file configures Apache web server behavior for a directory. It can set redirects, URL rewrites, access control, caching, GZIP compression, and security headers - all without editing Apache's main config.

Where do I put the .htaccess file?

Place it in your website's root directory (public_html or www). It affects that directory and all subdirectories unless overridden by another .htaccess file in a subdirectory.

Why aren't my .htaccess rules working?

Check: 1) mod_rewrite is enabled (run 'a2enmod rewrite'), 2) AllowOverride All is set in Apache's VirtualHost config, 3) File is named exactly '.htaccess' with leading dot, 4) No syntax errors (check Apache error log).

How do I force HTTPS with .htaccess?

Use RewriteCond to check if HTTPS is off, then redirect: RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off / RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]. This tool generates this automatically when you enable Force HTTPS.

What's the difference between Redirect and RewriteRule?

Redirect is simpler: 'Redirect 301 /old /new'. RewriteRule is more powerful with regex patterns and conditions. Use Redirect for simple path changes; RewriteRule for complex URL manipulation.

How do I set up caching in .htaccess?

Use mod_expires: ExpiresByType image/jpeg 'access plus 1 year'. This tells browsers to cache images for a year. CSS/JS typically cache for 1 month. This tool lets you enable caching with one click.

What security headers should I add?

Essential headers: X-Frame-Options (prevents clickjacking), X-Content-Type-Options (prevents MIME sniffing), Strict-Transport-Security (forces HTTPS). This tool adds them via mod_headers when selected.

How do I enable GZIP compression?

Use mod_deflate with AddOutputFilterByType for text/html, text/css, application/javascript, etc. GZIP can reduce file sizes by 70-90%, significantly improving page load times.

Does .htaccess work on Nginx?

No, .htaccess is Apache-specific. Nginx uses nginx.conf or site configs. Most .htaccess rules can be converted to Nginx format, but the syntax is completely different.

How do I redirect old URLs to new ones with .htaccess?

Use the Custom Redirects section. Choose 301 (permanent) for SEO-friendly redirects or 302 (temporary). Enter old path (/old-page) and new destination (/new-page or full URL). Multiple redirects are supported.

HTAccess Generator - Apache Redirects & Security

Caching

Cache images (1 year)

Cache CSS/JS (1 month)

Cache fonts (1 year)

Enable GZIP compression

Error Pages

404 Error Page

403 Error Page

500 Error Page

Custom Redirects

No custom redirects added

.htaccess File

# Click Generate to create your .htaccess file

Quick Reference

`RewriteEngine On`	Enable URL rewriting
`RewriteCond`	Condition for rewrite rule
`RewriteRule`	URL rewrite pattern
`Redirect 301`	Permanent redirect
`Redirect 302`	Temporary redirect
`Header set`	Set HTTP header
`ExpiresByType`	Set cache expiration

Common Patterns

Single Page App (React/Vue)

RewriteRule ^index\.html$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.html [L]

WordPress Permalinks

RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

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