.htaccess generator

What is a Htaccess Generator?

An .htaccess file configures the Apache web server per directory, without access to the main server configuration. It is common on shared hosting and WordPress sites for redirects, URL rewriting, caching and access control. This generator produces correct rules for the most frequent tasks.

How to use it

  1. Choose the rules you need, such as force HTTPS, redirect to www or add caching headers.
  2. Fill in details like your domain or redirect paths.
  3. Copy the output into the .htaccess file in your site's root directory.
  4. Test the site immediately; a syntax error causes a 500 Internal Server Error.

Example: force HTTPS and www

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC]
RewriteRule ^ https://www.example.com%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Combining both conditions in one rule avoids a redirect chain, which is better for SEO and speed.

Other common rules

  • Single 301 redirect: Redirect 301 /old-page /new-page
  • Custom 404 page: ErrorDocument 404 /404.html
  • Block access to sensitive files: deny requests for .env, .git and backup files.
  • Browser caching: mod_expires rules giving images and fonts long cache lifetimes.
  • Compression: mod_deflate for HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Tips

  • Back up the existing file before editing.
  • Use 302 while testing redirects; browsers cache 301 redirects aggressively.
  • Apache reads .htaccess on every request; if you control the server, put rules in the virtual host config instead for better performance.
  • Nginx does not read .htaccess files at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I put the .htaccess file?

In the directory it should apply to, usually the website's document root. It also applies to all subdirectories.

Why does my site show a 500 error after editing .htaccess?

There is a syntax error or a directive requiring a module that is not enabled. Restore the backup and check the error log.

Does Nginx support .htaccess?

No. Nginx rules must be written in its own server configuration files.

Should I use 301 or 302 redirects?

Use 301 for permanent moves so search engines transfer ranking. Use 302 for temporary redirects and while testing.

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