What is the function of the htaccess file?

The .htaccess file is a configuration file used to set specific configuration options for a directory on an Apache server. It can be used to affect the behavior of a website, such as redirecting URLs, preventing access to specific files or directories, enabling server-side compression and caching, and more. By adding specific directives to the .htaccess file, it is possible to alter the default settings of the server to meet the specific needs of a website.