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.

Options +Indexes

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

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.

IndexOptions +FancyIndexing

Add this to your .htaccess file to use the 'fancy' style.

IndexOptions -FancyIndexing

Use the above line if you prefer a more basic file list.

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.

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.

DirectoryIndex myfile.html

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