Can a .htaccess file in PHP be used to manipulate or redirect specific file requests, and if so, what are the key considerations?

Yes, a .htaccess file in PHP can be used to manipulate or redirect specific file requests by using RewriteRule directives. Key considerations include ensuring that the server has mod_rewrite enabled, properly formatting the RewriteRule syntax, and testing the redirects thoroughly to avoid unintended consequences.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^old-file\.html$ /new-file.html [R=301,L]