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6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and --><title>Configuration Files - Apache HTTP Server</title><link href="/style/css/manual.css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" title="Main stylesheet" /><link href="/style/css/manual-loose-100pc.css" rel="alternate stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" title="No Sidebar - Default font size" /><link href="/style/css/manual-print.css" rel="stylesheet" media="print" type="text/css" /><link href="/images/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" /></head><body id="manual-page"><div id="page-header"><p class="menu"><a href="/mod/">Modules</a> | <a href="/mod/directives.html">Directives</a> | <a href="/faq/">FAQ</a> | <a href="/glossary.html">Glossary</a> | <a href="/sitemap.html">Sitemap</a></p><p class="apache">Apache HTTP Server Version 2.0</p><img alt="" src="/images/feather.gif" /></div><div class="up"><a href="./"><img title="<-" alt="<-" src="/images/left.gif" /></a></div><div id="path"><a href="http://www.apache.org/">Apache</a> > <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/">HTTP Server</a> > <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-project/">Documentation</a> > <a href="./">Version 2.0</a></div><div id="page-content"><div id="preamble"><h1>Configuration Files</h1>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and<p>This document describes the files used to configure the Apache
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941andHTTP server.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and</div><div id="quickview"><ul id="toc"><li><img alt="" src="/images/down.gif" /> <a href="#main">Main Configuration Files</a></li><li><img alt="" src="/images/down.gif" /> <a href="#syntax">Syntax of the Configuration Files</a></li><li><img alt="" src="/images/down.gif" /> <a href="#modules">Modules</a></li><li><img alt="" src="/images/down.gif" /> <a href="#scope">Scope of Directives</a></li><li><img alt="" src="/images/down.gif" /> <a href="#htaccess">.htaccess Files</a></li></ul></div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="/images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="main" id="main">Main Configuration Files</a></h2>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <table class="related"><tr><th>Related Modules</th><th>Related Directives</th></tr><tr><td><ul><li><code class="module"><a href="/mod/mod_mime.html">mod_mime</a></code></li></ul></td><td><ul><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#ifdefine"><IfDefine></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#include">Include</a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/mod_mime.html#typesconfig">TypesConfig</a></code></li></ul></td></tr></table>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Apache is configured by placing <a href="mod/directives.html">directives</a> in plain text
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and configuration files. The main configuration file is usually
3f08db06526d6901aa08c110b5bc7dde6bc39905nd called <code>httpd.conf</code>. The location of this file is
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and set at compile-time, but may be overridden with the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and configuration files may be added using the <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#include">Include</a></code> directive. Any
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive may be placed in any of these configuration files.
3f08db06526d6901aa08c110b5bc7dde6bc39905nd Changes to the main configuration files are only recognized by
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and Apache when it is started or restarted.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>New with Apache 1.3.13 is a feature where if any
4b3a8afbfcea8b265d179a122bf40dfedd1ce280takashi configuration file is actually a directory, Apache will enter
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and that directory and parse any files (and subdirectories) found
f086b4b402fa9a2fefc7dda85de2a3cc1cd0a654rjung there as configuration files. One possible use for this would
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and be to add VirtualHosts by creating small configuration files
4b575a6b6704b516f22d65a3ad35696d7b9ba372rpluem for each host, and placing them in such a configuration
4b575a6b6704b516f22d65a3ad35696d7b9ba372rpluem directory. Thus, you can add or remove VirtualHosts without
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and editing any files at all, simply adding or deleting them. This
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and makes automating such processes much easier.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>The server also reads a file containing mime document types;
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and the filename is set by the <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/mod_mime.html#typesconfig">TypesConfig</a></code> directive,
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="/images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="syntax" id="syntax">Syntax of the Configuration Files</a></h2>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Apache configuration files contain one directive per line.
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and The back-slash "\" may be used as the last character on a line
1d980e5489836e977ba59b419e27b0ec875c4bd3takashi to indicate that the directive continues onto the next line.
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and There must be no other characters or white space between the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and back-slash and the end of the line.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Directives in the configuration files are case-insensitive,
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and but arguments to directives are often case sensitive. Lines
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and which begin with the hash character "#" are considered
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and comments, and are ignored. Comments may <strong>not</strong> be
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and included on a line after a configuration directive. Blank lines
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and and white space occurring before a directive are ignored, so
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and you may indent directives for clarity.</p>
1d980e5489836e977ba59b419e27b0ec875c4bd3takashi <p>You can check your configuration files for syntax errors
1d980e5489836e977ba59b419e27b0ec875c4bd3takashi without starting the server by using <code>apachectl
1d980e5489836e977ba59b419e27b0ec875c4bd3takashi configtest</code> or the <code>-t</code> command line
1d980e5489836e977ba59b419e27b0ec875c4bd3takashi option.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="/images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="modules" id="modules">Modules</a></h2>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <table class="related"><tr><th>Related Modules</th><th>Related Directives</th></tr><tr><td><ul><li><code class="module"><a href="/mod/mod_so.html">mod_so</a></code></li></ul></td><td><ul><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#ifmodule"><IfModule></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/mod_so.html#loadmodule">LoadModule</a></code></li></ul></td></tr></table>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Apache is a modular server. This implies that only the most
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and basic functionality is included in the core server. Extended
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and features are available through <a href="mod/index-bytype.html">modules</a> which can be loaded
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and into Apache. By default, a <a href="mod/module-dict.html#Status">base</a> set of modules is
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and included in the server at compile-time. If the server is
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and compiled to use <a href="dso.html">dynamically loaded</a>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and modules, then modules can be compiled separately and added at
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and any time using the <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/mod_so.html#loadmodule">LoadModule</a></code>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive.
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and Otherwise, Apache must be recompiled to add or remove modules.
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and Configuration directives may be included conditional on a
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and presence of a particular module by enclosing them in an<code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#ifmodule"><IfModule></a></code> block.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>To see which modules are currently compiled into the server,
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="/images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="scope" id="scope">Scope of Directives</a></h2>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <table class="related"><tr><th>Related Modules</th><th>Related Directives</th></tr><tr><td /><td><ul><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#directory"><Directory></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#directorymatch"><DirectoryMatch></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#files"><Files></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#filesmatch"><FilesMatch></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#location"><Location></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#locationmatch"><LocationMatch></a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#virtualhost"><VirtualHost></a></code></li></ul></td></tr></table>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Directives placed in the main configuration files apply to
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and the entire server. If you wish to change the configuration for
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and only a part of the server, you can scope your directives by
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and placing them in <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#directory"><Directory></a></code>, <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#directorymatch"><DirectoryMatch></a></code>, <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#files"><Files></a></code>, <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#filesmatch"><FilesMatch></a></code>, <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#location"><Location></a></code>, and <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#locationmatch"><LocationMatch></a></code>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and sections. These sections limit the application of the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directives which they enclose to particular filesystem
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and locations or URLs. They can also be nested, allowing for very
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and fine grained configuration.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Apache has the capability to serve many different websites
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and Hosting</a>. Directives can also be scoped by placing them
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and inside <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#virtualhost"><VirtualHost></a></code>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and sections, so that they will only apply to requests for a
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and particular website.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Although most directives can be placed in any of these
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and sections, some directives do not make sense in some contexts.
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and For example, directives controlling process creation can only
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and be placed in the main server context. To find which directives
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and can be placed in which sections, check the <a href="mod/directive-dict.html#Context">Context</a> of the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive. For further information, we provide details on <a href="sections.html">How Directory, Location and Files sections
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="/images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="htaccess" id="htaccess">.htaccess Files</a></h2>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <table class="related"><tr><th>Related Modules</th><th>Related Directives</th></tr><tr><td /><td><ul><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#accessfilename">AccessFileName</a></code></li><li><code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#allowoverride">AllowOverride</a></code></li></ul></td></tr></table>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>Apache allows for decentralized management of configuration
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and via special files placed inside the web tree. The special files
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and are usually called <code>.htaccess</code>, but any name can be
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and specified in the <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#accessfilename">AccessFileName</a></code>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive. Directives placed in <code>.htaccess</code> files
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and apply to the directory where you place the file, and all
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and sub-directories. The <code>.htaccess</code> files follow the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and same syntax as the main configuration files. Since
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <code>.htaccess</code> files are read on every request, changes
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and made in these files take immediate effect.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>To find which directives can be placed in
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <code>.htaccess</code> files, check the <a href="mod/directive-dict.html#Context">Context</a> of the
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive. The server administrator further controls what
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directives may be placed in <code>.htaccess</code> files by
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and configuring the <code class="directive"><a href="/mod/core.html#allowoverride">AllowOverride</a></code>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and directive in the main configuration files.</p>
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and <p>For more information on <code>.htaccess</code> files, see
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and Ken Coar's tutorial on <a href="http://apache-server.com/tutorials/ATusing-htaccess.html">
6ae232055d4d8a97267517c5e50074c2c819941and </div></div><div id="footer"><p class="apache">Maintained by the <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-project/">Apache HTTP Server Documentation Project</a></p><p class="menu"><a href="/mod/">Modules</a> | <a href="/mod/directives.html">Directives</a> | <a href="/faq/">FAQ</a> | <a href="/glossary.html">Glossary</a> | <a href="/sitemap.html">Sitemap</a></p></div></body></html>