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Kevin Murphy
24,380 Points.htaccess file - Wordpress -- What is this file and it's role specifically?
Had a friend with an .htaccess permissions issue today. Reminded me that I have been curious what this file does and why sometimes the permissions need to be altered etc. Haven't found a concise explanation, I've even read that in some cases use of the file is optional?
Any experienced WP developers out there that could clarify this? Perhaps a practical example of its role? Greatly appreciated.
2 Answers
James Gill
Courses Plus Student 34,936 PointsKevin,
Fundamentally, .htaccess is an Apache web server configuration file. It's commonly used to override other configuration settings, especially at the directory level--customizing error pages, access control (to directories, for example), and more.
With WordPress, the primary use of .htaccess is security (access control).
Here's a great, comprehensive resource:
Here's what the WordPress Codex says about it:
http://codex.wordpress.org/htaccess
Here's the Apache page about it:
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/howto/htaccess.html
And this discusses WP and .htaccess together, in the context of security:
http://www.wpwhitesecurity.com/definite-guide-htaccess-wordpress/
Oh, and in case you were interested: it stands for "hypertext access".
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsFound a great article that explains in practical terms what each line of a standard WP .htaccess file does and how relates to permalinks. Wordpress' .htaccess file
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsAlso would recommend viewing/reviewing this excellent breakdown of permissions using the command line in the Treehouse library Treehouse Course: Console Foundations - Users and Permisssions. A quick review should have been step 0 for me, prior to diving into intricacies of htaccess.
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsKevin Murphy
24,380 PointsHi James - thanks for these resources! I had read the Codex but wasn't connecting the dots to a practical use case.
I'm in the process of digesting this information. As I'm doing so, I'm still struggling with a few questions. (also I see that an .htaccess file is created by WP when user adds pretty permalinks - not sure how that relates to Apache server but not important at moment) .
Is it common that the permissions in the .htaccess file can be corrupted? And if so what is the go to method to fix? FTP a new .htaccess file or command line the proper permission settings in (as it seems the codex suggests)?
Thanks!