Getting Started with .htaccess for WordPress

An introduction on how to configure your .htaccess file to do more than what WordPress provides by default. The talk will cover basics like setting up a preferred URL, and redirecting old page URLs for better SEO. How to optimize your site’s files using gzip will also be covered, as well as preventing image hot linking, and more. A sample .htaccess file will be provided to all attendees. A useful introduction to a very important file for any shared hosting environment. Presented at WordCamp Montreal 2014.

Transcript

1. Getting Started
   with .htaccess
   for Wordpress
   Shannon Smith
   All rights reserved © Café Noir Design Inc., 2014.
   

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2. Shannon Smith
   Web Developer
   Café Noir Design
   !
   !
   www.cafenoirdesign.com
   @cafenoirdesign
   All rights reserved © Café Noir Design Inc., 2014.
   

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3. What We’ll Cover
   • Introduction
   • Getting Started
   • .htaccess for SEO
   • .htaccess for Security
   • .htaccess for Optimization
   • Resources
   • Closing
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4. Introduction
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5. What Is an .htaccess File?
   .htaccess files (or “distributed configuration files”)
   provide a way to make configuration changes on a
   per-directory basis
   Official Apache Documentation
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6. In English, Please?
   .htaccess is a configuration file
   for use on web servers running
   the Apache Web Server software
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7. A Little History…
   .htaccess = hypertext access
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8. Why Do We Care?
   Photo: Linus Bohman
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9. What Does It Look Like?
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10. Where Is It?
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11. When Can We Use .htaccess ?
    • Apache Web Server software
    • Linux/Unix server
    • Shared Hosting
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12. But...Measure Twice, Cut Once
    Photo:Kari
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13. Getting Started
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14. Basic Syntax
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15. Commenting
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16. Enable Basic Rewriting
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17. Allow URL Rewriting
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18. Rewrite Base
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19. Match a Regular Expression
    (Regex) String
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20. Use “IfModule” directives
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21. Rewrite URLs
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22. A Basic mod_rewrite Command
    RewriteRule Pattern Substitution [Flag(s)]
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23. That’s It!
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24. Troubleshooting
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25. Why Isn’t It Working?
    “I don’t see anything."
    Your Text Editor
    Photo:Emilio Labrador
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26. Why Isn’t It Working?
    “Are you sure you
    spelled that correctly?"
    Your English Teacher
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27. Why Isn’t It Working?
    “You can’t do that."
    Apache
    Photo:Achim Hepp
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28. Why Isn’t It Working?
    “Welcome."
    The Infinite Loop
    Photo:smittenkittenorig
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29. Why Isn’t It Working?
    “We don’t allow that for
    security reasons".
    Your Hosting Provider
    Photo:Sam Howzit
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30. .htaccess for SEO
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31. Basic Rules of SEO
    • Don’t repeat yourself
    • Don’t repeat yourself
    • Don’t repeat yourself
    Photo: jerebu
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32. Redirect a Single Page
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33. To www or Not to www
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34. Redirect Additional Domain Names
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35. .htaccess for Security
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36. Hide Your Files
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37. Hide Your Server Information
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38. Block Bad Referring Sites
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39. Block Site Rippers
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40. .htaccess for Optimization
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41. Prevent Image Hotlinking
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42. File Compression
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43. Set Caching Limits
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44. Use Asset Versioning
    
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45. Asset Versioning with
    wp_enqueue_style
    
    !
    false, '1.0.0', all ); ?>
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46. Turn Off ETags
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47. Resources
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48. Resources
    • Official Apache Documentation

    http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/howto/htaccess.html
    • .htaccess made easy by Jeff Starr

    http://htaccessbook.com
    • Protect your WordPress site with .htaccess (.net magazine)

    http://www.netmagazine.com/tutorials/protect-your-wordpress-site-htaccess
    • Comprehensive guide to .htaccess

    http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess.shtml
    • The Ultimate Guide to .htaccess Files (Nettuts)

    http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/other/the-ultimate-guide-to-htaccess-files/
    • Practical Mod_Rewrite for Web Developers

    http://www.snipe.net/2009/02/practical-mod_rewrite/
    • mod_rewrite Cheat Sheet

    http://www.addedbytes.com/cheat-sheets/mod_rewrite-cheat-sheet/
    • Stupid htaccess Tricks

    http://perishablepress.com/stupid-htaccess-tricks/

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49. Closing
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50. Shannon Smith
    Web Developer
    Café Noir Design
    !
    !
    www.cafenoirdesign.com
    @cafenoirdesign
    All rights reserved © Café Noir Design Inc., 2014.
    

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