apache .htaccess rewrite - can I move this into httpd.conf

Question

Below is the only code I have in the .htaccess file with apache 2.2.

I've read that its a performance impact to use a .htacess and better if this this can be run out of httpd.conf. Therefore is it possible for me to add this into httpd.conf? If so where would I put it?

Would it need to go into the VirtualHost for each Host that needed it (in my case a lot of hosts) or could it go generically into httpd.conf so it applies to all hosts?

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?/$1 [L]
</IfModule>

Answer 1

.htaccess provides configuration for a directory, while httpd.conf provides an overall configuration. Of course, you can move content from .htaccess to httpd.conf. You can find more about .htaccess here: Apache HTTP Server Tutorial: .htaccess files

Take your .htaccess for example:

Contents of .htaccess file in /www/htdocs/example

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?/$1 [L]
</IfModule>

Section from your httpd.conf file

<Directory /www/htdocs/example>
    <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
        RewriteEngine on
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l
        RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?/$1 [L]
    </IfModule>
</Directory>