Hi,
sometimes I see this sign ~ being used in URLs, usually preceding an account name, like this

https://www.myreselleraccount.com/~myclientusername

Is there some technical reason to use this ~ thing?

Can it be dropped / dispensed with?

The ~ usually indicates that it is a user directory. For example, lets say you have your root web directory at /home/sites/site1/www and you want to give your friend an account. So you create a user account for him in /home/sites/site1/users/friend. Now if you have it configured correctly in httpd.conf, www.domain.com/~friend/ will be /home/sites/site1/users/friend and www.domain.com/friend/ will be /home/sites/site1/www/friend (a subdirectory).

It's a UNIX thing, and it has been that way for ages. Well, atleast it was like that when I first got on in '94.

~ is used to indicate "the home directory of the current user"; it is only a short step from there to using ~username to mean a user's private webspace. (Especially since ~-expansion almost guarantees that there won't be a real directory name starting with a tilde).

Thanks, I understand now :) it's just that every once in a while I get on a puter with a keyboard where I just can't figure out how to type the tilde ~ , don't remember about the Macintosh but wouldn't be surprised it they don't have a key for the ~, for example... That's why I don't like it. Some people can't type these URLs I think...

Not used to. ~ still does represent the current users home directory. And ~username is the home directory for username. This is an OLD unix convention and still works on every unix variant I've ever seen.

Actually you can change the "~" to whatever you'd like in the httpd.conf configuration file.

HEY - at least you know its a tilde, ive actually had support calls from people asking where the key is on the keyboard !! :eek:

hehehe

dont you just love THOSE guys? :D :uzi:

Originally posted by astra4
don't remember about the Macintosh but wouldn't be surprised it they don't have a key for the ~

:rolleyes:

The Mac has had the tilde key for quite some time..... back '94 when I got my first Mac, it had one.....