.htaccess Tester — Rewrite Rule Validation
Line-by-line syntax check for RewriteRule, Redirect, and access directives
How to Use This Tool
- Paste htaccess content into monospace textarea.
- Each non-comment line matches directive regex patterns.
- Recognized directives mark OK with descriptive message.
- Unrecognized lines mark Review for manual inspection.
- Download exports current textarea content as .htaccess.
About This Tool
VSPIC htaccess tester parses .htaccess line by line, flagging recognized Apache directives — RewriteEngine, RewriteRule, RewriteCond, Redirect, ErrorDocument, Allow, Deny, Order — with OK or Review status per line while ignoring comments and blanks.
Does not simulate full request routing — syntax heuristic only. Download validated content as .htaccess file. Review flagged lines before deploying to production Apache or compatible hosts.
Common use cases
- •Inspect HTTP headers and user-agent strings
- •Analyze email headers for phishing investigation
- •Generate strong passwords for staging environments
Apache rewrite basics
mod_rewrite maps pretty URLs to PHP scripts via RewriteRule pattern target flags. Syntax errors cause 500 Internal Server Error on entire site — pre-validate before upload.
What tester validates
Regex recognizes common directive prefixes — not full Apache grammar simulation. OK means pattern matched known good prefix not guaranteed runtime correctness.
Review status meaning
Review lines may be valid niche directives unsupported by patterns — human judgment required not automatic deletion.
RewriteCond dependency
Conditions apply to following RewriteRule — tester validates Cond syntax separately not logical pairing order.
Redirect versus RewriteRule
Redirect directive simpler for literal path moves — RewriteRule flexible for regex capture groups.
Not a replacement for apachectl
Production should still run apachectl configtest on server — browser tool for quick edits on laptop offline.
LiteSpeed and compatible hosts
Many shared hosts use Apache-compatible htaccess — syntax similar but unsupported directives fail silently on nginx-only hosts.
Download workflow
Edit iteratively until Review lines resolved or accepted then download file for FTP upload.
Security cautions
Deny from all mistakes lock out administrators — double Review flagged Deny Order combinations.
SEO redirect chains
Validate 301 RewriteRule targets before migration — syntax OK does not prove destination URL exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. VSPIC offers this htaccess tester at no cost with no account required. Results load in real time.
We do not permanently store your queries on our servers. Some tools run entirely in your browser; others fetch public data for the request only.
Yes. Open the page in any modern phone or tablet browser. Results work on Wi‑Fi and mobile data.
No. Syntax heuristic only — not full mod_rewrite engine.
nginx ignores htaccess — use nginx config tools instead.
Basic rule pattern validated — complex flags may still need server test.
Client-side line parser.
Not specially parsed — inner lines analyzed individually.
Always backup and apachectl configtest on server before deploy.
Next step for your check
Continue with open redirect checker on VSPIC.
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