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An .htaccess file is a configuration file used by the Apache web server. It allows for decentralized management of web server configuration. This means that administrators can define specific rules and settings on a per-directory basis, without needing to modify the main server configuration files. These files are placed within the directories of a website.

The primary uses of .htaccess files include controlling access, rewriting URLs, and setting up redirects. For instance, one can restrict access to certain directories by IP address or require a username and password. URL rewriting is a common application, allowing for cleaner, more user-friendly URLs by mapping complex server paths to simpler ones. This is often used for search engine optimization (SEO). Redirects, such as permanent (301) or temporary (302) redirects, can also be configured to point users and search engines from an old URL to a new one.

While .htaccess files offer flexibility, they can also impact server performance because Apache needs to check for and process these files in every directory leading up to the requested file. This can be less efficient than a centralized configuration. Therefore, for performance-critical websites, it is generally recommended to implement such configurations directly in the main Apache configuration files when possible. The directives within an .htaccess file are processed in a hierarchical manner, starting from the root directory and cascading down to the specific directory where the file is located.