Article Updated
This article has been consolidated
Everything about .htaccess files is in our complete .htaccess guide.
Short answer: .htaccess files are Apache configuration files. cPanel, WordPress, and security plugins create them automatically. They control redirects, security, caching, error pages, and PHP settings. Each one applies to its directory and all subdirectories. Do not delete them unless you are sure they are not needed.
View .htaccess Guide