Apache Server configuration support - Why does RW-R--R--) make .htaccess file available to server but not to browser?

Author

Why does RW-R--R--) make .htaccess file available to server but not to browser?

Reporter

2007-07-18, 7:25 pm

I was reading "A Comprehensive Guide to .htaccess" at
http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess.shtml

It says "You may need to CHMOD the htaccess file to 644 or (RW-R--
R--). This makes the file usable by the server, but prevents it from
being read by a browser."

I am confused. Why does the above mode ng make a file available to
the server but not to the browser.

Thank you.