The .htaccess file is Apache's per-directory configuration powerhouse. From 301 redirects during site migrations to enforcing HTTPS, setting security headers, and enabling browser caching — a well-crafted .htaccess file handles server configuration without touching the main httpd.conf.
What Is .htaccess Generator?
.htaccess (hypertext access) is a configuration file for Apache web servers that applies rules to the directory it's placed in. Our .htaccess Generator creates rules for common scenarios with proper syntax and ordering.
How to Use .htaccess Generator on DevToolHub
- Open the .htaccess Generator tool on DevToolHub — no signup required.
- Paste or enter your input data in the left panel.
- See the result instantly in the output panel.
- Copy the result or download it as a file.
Essential .htaccess Rules
The rules most sites need:
# Force HTTPS
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
# www to non-www redirect
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.*)$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1/$1 [L,R=301]
# Security headers
Header set X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff"
Header set X-Frame-Options "DENY"
Header set Referrer-Policy "strict-origin-when-cross-origin"
# Browser caching
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
ExpiresActive On
ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 year"
ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 month"
</IfModule>Pro Tips
- Test .htaccess changes on staging first — a syntax error returns 500 for the entire site
- Order matters: place redirects before rewrite rules
- Use [L] flag to stop processing after a match — prevents unexpected rule chaining
- Don't use .htaccess if you have access to httpd.conf — direct config is faster
When You Need This
- Setting up 301 redirects during site migrations
- Enforcing HTTPS and www/non-www normalization
- Configuring browser caching for static assets
- Adding security headers on shared hosting without server access
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