directoryspecific

Directoryspecific is a term used in information technology to describe configurations, data, or resources that are applied to a specific directory in a filesystem or hierarchical data store, rather than globally. It denotes a scope limited to that directory and its descendants.

In practice, directory-specific configurations are implemented with files stored within the directory. Examples include .htaccess files in web servers, per-directory configuration files in some applications, or ignore files like .gitignore. These settings may override or augment higher-level defaults for resources within that directory.

Inheritance and override semantics vary by system. Some assume that directory-level settings propagate to subdirectories unless a more specific file provides an override; others restrict inheritance or require explicit enabling. The model emphasizes locality, modularity, and the ability to tailor behavior to different parts of a hierarchy.

Common use cases include access control, routing or serving rules, building or deployment steps, and content filtering. The approach balances flexibility with the risk of misconfiguration and increased maintenance, so many systems provide clear documentation and testing for directory-specific rules.

Related concepts include per-directory configuration, hierarchical configuration, and ignore or exclude files used to drive behavior in a given directory.