With an .htaccess file, you shall specify how the server that addresses the requests to your web sites have to act in a variety of situations. This is a text file with directives that are executed when somebody tries to open your Internet site and what happens next will depend on the content of the file. As an example, you may block a specific IP address from accessing your website, which means that the server will decline your visitor’s request, or you can forward your domain to a different URL, so the server may redirect the visitor to the new web address. You could also use custom-made error pages or secure any part of your Internet site with a password, if you place an .htaccess file inside the correct folder. Many widespread script-driven applications, including Joomla™, Drupal™ and WordPress, use an .htaccess file to work correctly.