Apache Handlers and MIME types

These two sections under Advanced Features determine how the server handles files. Most customers never need them: all common file types are already set up correctly. Only use them if you know why you need to.

Apache Handlers

A handler determines which program processes a file. By default, files with the .php extension are executed by PHP. With a custom handler, you can link a different extension to a program, for example so that .html files are also processed by PHP.

1. Click Apache Handlers.
2. On the User defined handlers tab, you'll see your own handlers. On System handlers, you'll see what the server does by default.
3. Under Create new handler (1), fill in the name of the handler under Handler and the extension without a dot under Extension.
4. Click CREATE NEW HANDLER.

Please note: An incorrect handler can cause your PHP files to no longer be executed, but instead shown as text or downloaded. That means anyone can read your code and passwords. Test your website immediately after making a change, and remove the handler if something goes wrong.

Want to give one folder a different PHP version? Don't use an Apache Handler for that, but a line in .htaccess (see PHP settings per directory and via .htaccess).

MIME types

A MIME type tells the browser what kind of file it's receiving, for example an image, a video or a download. If that's incorrect, the browser may show a file as text or download something it should display instead. If this happens with a new or unusual file type, you can add a MIME type yourself.

1. Click MIME types.
2. Under Add MIME Type (1), fill in the MIME type under Name, for example application/manifest+json, and the extension without a dot under Extension, for example webmanifest.
3. Click ADD MIME TYPE.

On the System MIME types tab, you can first check whether the type already exists. Usually, it does.