.htaccess files can configure important aspects of a website. Aspects like redirection or caching of images or preventing other sites using images from a site and so on.

Actions inside the control panel may affect this file (for instance enabling SSL) so need to check before editing. Dreamhost

My currently modifications to the .htaccess file:

`Redirect /index.html`/Articles/index.html

Redirect the home page.

ErrorDocument 404 /Articles/404.html

Sets what to show on page not found.

<IfModule mod_expires.c>
ExpiresActive on
ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 600 seconds"
</IfModule>

Ensure browsers refresh cache of CSS files often.