When a web browser is pointed to a directory on your web site which does not have an index.html file in it, the files in that directory can be listed on a web page.

1. Enable/Disable Directory Listing

To have the web server produce a list of files for such directories, use the below line in your .htaccess.

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Options +Indexes

To have an error (403) returned instead, use this line.

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Options -Indexes

2. Listing Style

Either a basic list of files can be shown, or a ‘fancy’ list including icons, file size, modification date and more.

Add this to your .htaccess file to use the ‘fancy’ style.

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IndexOptions +FancyIndexing

Use this line if you prefer a more basic file list.

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IndexOptions -FancyIndexing

3. Ignore Files

Let’s say you have a directory with .jpg, .gif and .png image files. You only want the .png files to show in the directory listings. Add this line to your .htaccess.

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IndexIgnore *.gif *.jpg

The web server now ignores the .gif and .jpg files.

4. Modify Index File

Maybe you don’t want a list of the files, you want a specific file to be shown instead. You could upload an index.html file in this directory. There is another way.

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DirectoryIndex myfile.html

Instead of listing the files, web page myfile.html will now be shown for this directory and its subdirectories.

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