What is the role of .htaccess files in PHP development and how can they be properly utilized?
.htaccess files are used in PHP development to configure settings for the Apache web server. They can be utilized to control access to directories, redirect URLs, set custom error pages, and enable/disable certain features. To properly utilize .htaccess files, ensure they are placed in the root directory of your website and follow the correct syntax for the directives you want to implement.
# Example of redirecting all traffic to HTTPS
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]