Server configuration files control how web servers (Apache, Nginx) handle requests. .htaccess (Apache) and nginx.conf (Nginx) let you set redirects, security headers, caching, compression, and more.
Apache vs Nginx
Apache uses .htaccess files in website directories for per-directory configuration. Nginx uses centralized nginx.conf files with server blocks. Apache is more flexible but slower; Nginx is faster but requires server reload for config changes.
Common Configuration Tasks
HTTPS redirect: Force secure connections. WWW redirect: Standardize domain format. CORS: Allow cross-origin API requests. Caching: Speed up repeat visits. Gzip: Reduce file sizes. IP blocking: Prevent unwanted access.
Best Practices
Always backup configs before changes. Test in staging first. Use HTTPS everywhere. Enable Gzip for text files. Set appropriate cache times (1 week for images, 1 day for CSS/JS). Block IPs only when necessary - use rate limiting instead when possible.