How does the .htaccess file configuration for mod_rewrite in Wordpress differ from a custom implementation in PHP?

When using mod_rewrite in Wordpress, the configuration is typically handled through the .htaccess file. This file contains rules that rewrite URLs to make them more user-friendly and search engine-friendly. On the other hand, a custom implementation in PHP would involve writing code within the PHP files themselves to handle URL rewriting logic. The main difference is that the .htaccess file configuration is more commonly used in Wordpress for its simplicity and efficiency in handling URL rewriting. PHP code snippet for custom URL rewriting implementation:

<?php
// Custom URL rewriting implementation in PHP
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] == '/about') {
    include 'about.php'; // Include about.php file when user visits /about URL
} elseif ($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] == '/contact') {
    include 'contact.php'; // Include contact.php file when user visits /contact URL
} else {
    echo '404 Not Found'; // Display 404 error if URL does not match any defined rules
}
?>