Using .htaccess files can negatively affect web server performance, especially in cases of high frequency access or improper configuration. The main problem is that every request reads the .htaccess file, which adds additional overhead compared to directives that directly write to the main configuration file (such as httpd.conf). Specifically, it is manifested as: 1. Apache will look for the .htaccess file in the directory in each request, and search even if it does not exist, resulting in more disk I/O, affecting the response speed; 2. Rules in .htaccess will be re-parsed and executed every time they request, including URL rewriting, authentication, redirection, etc., while instructions in the main configuration file will only be parsed once when Apache is started or reloaded; 3. In order to improve performance, the rules should be moved to the
Using .htaccess
files can have a performance impact on your web server, especially if they're used heavily or improperly. The main issue is that .htaccess
files are read on every request, which adds overhead compared to configuration directives placed directly in the main server config (like httpd.conf
or virtual host files).
Here's how it breaks down:
Apache has to look for .htaccess files on every request
By default, Apache checks each directory in the path of a requested file for a .htaccess
file. Even if you don't have one, this search still happens. This means more disk I/O and slower response times—especially if your site uses deep directory structures.
If you're using .htaccess
files across many directories, and you get a lot of traffic, this overhead can add up. You can reduce it by setting AllowOverride None
in your server config and moving all rules to the main configuration.
Rules in .htaccess are processed repeatedly
Unlike directives in the main server config, which are compiled once when Apache starts or reloads, .htaccess
rules are re-read and reprocessed with every request. That means:
- URL rewriting done in
.htaccess
runs each time - Authentication settings are reloaded per request
- Redirects and MIME types are reapplied over and over
This repeated processing isn't a huge hit on small sites, but on busier ones, it's better to move these rules into the main config where they're only parsed once.
It's convenient but not ideal for performance-focused setups
The big reason people use .htaccess
is convenience—especially in shared hosting environments where they don't have access to the main server config. It lets users tweak settings without needing server-level access.
But if you control your server and care about performance, it's better to:
- Move rewrite rules to
<directory></directory>
blocks in the main config - Disable
.htaccess
usage withAllowOverride None
- Reload Apache after changes instead of relying on runtime parsing
This gives you cleaner config management and faster request handling.
Basically that's it. .htaccess
works fine for small sites or quick fixes, but if you're optimizing for speed and scalability, it's worth moving those settings into the main server configuration.
The above is the detailed content of What is the performance impact of using .htaccess files?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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Using .htaccess files can negatively affect web server performance, especially in cases of high frequency access or improper configuration. The main problem is that every request reads the .htaccess file, which adds additional overhead compared to directives that directly write to the main configuration file (such as httpd.conf). Specifically manifested as: 1. Apache will look for the .htaccess file in the directory in each request, and search even if it does not exist, resulting in more disk I/O and affecting the response speed; 2. The rules in htaccess will be re-parsed and executed every time they request, including URL rewriting, authentication, redirection, etc., while the instructions in the main configuration file will only start or reload Apache.

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