Here's my list of the ultimate htaccess code snippets and examples that I use all the time. I tried to keep them extremely minimalistic.

Don't miss checking out my example htaccess file, its very comprehensive

Hey jason I'm glad someone finally noticed the "development" htaccess at the bottom of my file! Thats honestly the piece of code I am most glad to have.

Heres the actual code that I use when I'm developing sites for clients

This lets google crawl the page, lets me access the whole site (24.205.23.222) without a password, and lets my client access the page WITH a password. It also allows for XHTML and CSS validation! (w3.org)

Apache Documentation: 1.3 2.0 2.2 Current

Make any file be a certain filetype (regardless of name or extension)

Redirect non-https requests to https server fixing double-login problem and ensuring that htpasswd authorization can only be entered using HTTPS

Additional https/ssl information and Apache SSL in htaccess examples

SEO Friendly redirects for bad/old links and moved links

For single moved file

For multiple files like a blog/this.php?gh

different domain name

Require the www

Require the www without hardcoding

Require no subdomain

Require no subdomain

Redirect everyone to different site except 1 IP address (useful for web-development)

CHMOD your files

Variable (mod_env) Magic

Set the Timezone of the server:

Set the Server Administrator Email:

Turn off the ServerSignature

Add a "en-US" language tag and "text/html; UTF-8" headers without meta tags

Article: Setting Charset in htaccess

Article: Using FilesMatch and Files in htaccess

Using the Files Directive

Using the FilesMatch Directive (preferred)

Use a custom php.ini with mod_php or php as a cgi

Article: Custom PHP.ini tips and tricks

When php run as Apache Module (mod_php)

in root .htaccess

SetEnv PHPRC /location/todir/containing/phpinifile

When php run as CGI

Place your php.ini file in the dir of your cgi’d php, in this case /cgi-bin/

htaccess might look something like this

AddHandler php-cgi .php .htm Action php-cgi /cgi-bin/php5.cgi

When cgi’d php is run with wrapper (for FastCGI)

You will have a shell wrapper script something like this:

#!/bin/sh

export PHP_FCGI_CHILDREN=3

exec /user3/x.com/htdocs/cgi-bin/php5.cgi

Change To

#!/bin/sh

export PHP_FCGI_CHILDREN=3

exec /x.com/cgi-bin/php.cgi -c /abs/path/to/php.ini

Securing directories: Remove the ability to execute scripts

Only allow GET and PUT request methods to your server.

Processing All gif files to be processed through a cgi script

Process request/file depending on the request method

Force Files to download, not be displayed in browser

Then in your HTML you could just link directly to the file..

And then you will get a pop-up box asking whether you want to save the file or open it.

Show the source code of dynamic files

If you'd rather have .pl, .py, or .cgi files displayed in the browser as source rather than be executed as scripts, simply create a .htaccess file in the relevant directory with the following:

Dramatically Speed up your site by implementing Caching!

Article: Speed Up Sites with htaccess Caching

Prevent Files image/file hotlinking and bandwidth stealing

ErrorDocuments

Article: Additional ErrorDocument Info and Examples

Note: You can also do an external link, but don't do an external link to your site or you will cause a loop that will hurt your SEO.

Authentication Magic

Require password for 1 file:

Protect multiple files:

Example uses of the Allow Directive:

Using visitor dependent environment variables:

Article: Additional SetEnvIf examples

Allow from apache.org but deny from foo.apache.org

Allow from IP address with no password prompt, and also allow from non-Ip address with password prompt:

block access to files during certain hours of the day

A good default example .htaccess file

I use this when I start a new site, and uncomment or delete parts of the file depending on the sites needs

Ultimate htaccess Article