Home
>
Web Design
>
.htaccess to Mask Errors on Your Website

.htaccess to Mask Errors on Your Website

The .htaccess file is a control file located in your webservers directory. This file is a very powerful file that can control access to certain files, restrict access to files, forward people in the event of errors, and many more useful features for webmasters!

One of the most embarrassing things for a webmaster is to have a website with dead links, bad URLs, and error messages when the user surfs through your website. Using the .htaccess file you can help reduce how noticeable those errors are by quickly moving the user to a correct working location. This method of course doesn't correct the underlying problem with your website, however it does help to keep your website looking more professional.

Common error codes that you want to try to hide from the user:

400 - Bad Request
401 - Authorization Required
403 - Forbidden
404 - Page Not Found
500 - Internal Server Error
501 - Not Implemented

The biggest and most common error by far is the 404 Error (Page not found), but all of these can be embarrassing and troublesome to webmasters. If an error occurs on your website you don't want to lose that user. You may not be able to provide them with a link to the page they wanted, but you might get another chance if you redirect them to another page within your website.

Syntax for .htaccess file:

ErrorDocument ### index.php -- Example of format
ErrorDocument 404 /index.php -- Working example

In the second example, should a user request a page that no longer exists on your website, they will automatically have the index.php file loaded. This can be done for all of the error codes listed above and will help to hide and glaring mistakes in your website.

As I mentioned before, this is not a fix action for your website, but simply a mask. It's very important to review your website logs and look for error codes. The goal is to have a good working website afterall!

Ken Dennis
http://kendennis-rss.homeip.net/

residential cleaning services Deerfield ...

In The News:

SpaceX is reportedly pursuing access to 80,000 cell sites to turn Starlink into a major wireless carrier rivaling Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Tech advocacy groups warn that foreign nationals at AI companies like OpenAI and Google pose a national security threat amid a lack of federal oversight.

Singapore researchers built the world's first touchscreen woven into clothing, surviving 50 machine washes while displaying images and responding to touch.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

A startup founder woke to $449 in unexpected OpenAI and Anthropic charges after stolen API keys were exploited during the "Black October" cyber wave.

Educational Testing Service hackers stole millions of California student records, but families who moved out of state years ago may also be affected.

Apple's iPhone Duo screens are cracking near the hinge just days after its $1,999 launch, and iFixit's CT scans may reveal what's going wrong.

Travel expert Katy Nastro says 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles vanished from her account after someone redeemed them without permission.

Google AI Overviews can't be permanently turned off, but adding -AI to your searches and using the built-in Web filter can help bypass AI summaries.

Attaxion researchers found 30 fake Texas campaign merchandise stores traced to just two sellers hawking gear for competing Republicans and Democrats.

GM plans to debut eyes-off driving in the Cadillac Escalade IQ by 2028, but safety testing reveals how long distracted drivers take to regain control.

Data brokers assign labels predicting your health, finances and religion based on browsing and purchases, then sell those profiles to businesses.

Elon Musk says he'll give one SpaceX share to every kid in America in 2027, but key details about eligibility and distribution remain unclear.

ClearSpace UK's robotic spacecraft with giant claws will chase down dead satellites at 17,000 mph, with a 2029 launch from Scotland planned.

A fake Social Security statement phishing email uses the SSA logo and a convincing layout, but the sender's domain instantly exposes the scam.

A clean credit report doesn't mean your identity is safe. Six ways criminals can steal from you without triggering a credit monitoring alert.

Carolyn Marvin, a 78-year-old retired professor, was arrested after blocking an Uber Eats delivery robot on a Philadelphia sidewalk for months.

The Midnight Mimosa malware campaign hides inside cheap Android phone firmware, giving attackers powerful access before owners even turn devices on.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Meta's Muse AI was built to manage tasks, but users are developing romantic AI relationships and even calling the AI companion their girlfriend.

A Minnesota murder suspect's notebook listed 11 people search websites, raising urgent questions about data broker opt-out and online privacy risks.

Google Universal Cart tracks price drops, surfaces promo codes and uses Google Wallet to match your best credit card rewards before checkout.

Safari's Notify Me feature and Google's price-tracking tools can monitor products and send alerts when prices drop on your iPhone or Android.

George Weiner built PACspam.org to trace who sends nonstop political fundraising texts after blocking numbers repeatedly failed to stop the messages.

A dedicated VPN IP address may reduce frustrating CAPTCHAs and bank login security checks by giving websites a consistent connection to recognize.

.htaccess to Mask Errors on Your Website

Web Design