httpd.conf or .htaccess?

You can put Apache httpd configuration changes into both the httpd.conf file and files called .htaccess. What's the difference? Which should you use?

If you put directives into httpd.conf - or any files called up with an include:
* They are read only when the server restarts
* They are set up by the system administrator
* They can override any settings from a higher directory, even if allowoverride is set to none

If you put directives into a .htaccess file:
* They are read for each and every hit to the directory or its descendants
* They are set up by the web administrator responsible for that directory
* They can only override settings from httpd.conf if allowoverride is set for it

You may be told that .htaccess is less efficient - true, but in the whole run of things it's only going to take a very little longer, so you normally don't need to be concerned about that. More important is the difference of who administers the settings, and for system administrators to be aware of the additional support that may be required for the web team / web content providers if they're allowed to modify settings via . htaccess.
(written 2007-02-14)

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httpd.conf or .htaccess?
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