With an .htaccess file, you'll determine how the web server that addresses the requests to your websites should act in various scenarios. This is a text file with directives that are performed when someone tries to open your Internet site and what happens next depends on the content of the file. For instance, you may block a certain IP address from opening the Internet site, so the server will decline the visitor’s request, or you can redirect your domain to another URL, so the server may redirect the visitor to the new web address. You may also use customized error pages or preserve any part of your Internet site with a password, if you place an .htaccess file inside the correct folder. Many well-known script-driven applications, such as Joomla™, Drupal™ and WordPress, use an .htaccess file to work properly.