## Options

Syntax: Options [+|-]option [+|-]option ...
Context: server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: Options
Status: core

The Options directive controls which server features are available in a particular directory.

option can be set to `None`, in which case none of the extra features are enabled, or one or more of the following:

All
  All options except for MultiViews. This is the default setting.
ExecCGI
  Execution of CGI scripts is permitted.
FollowSymLinks
  The server will follow symbolic links in this directory.
  Note: even though the server follows the symlink it does not change the pathname used to match against `<Directory>` sections.
  Note: this option gets ignored if set inside a <Location> section.
Includes
  Server-side includes are permitted.
IncludesNOEXEC
  Server-side includes are permitted, but the #exec command and #include of CGI scripts are disabled.
Indexes
  If a URL which maps to a directory is requested, and the there is no DirectoryIndex (e.g., index.html) in that directory, then the server will return a formatted listing of the directory.
MultiViews
  Content negotiated MultiViews are allowed.
SymLinksIfOwnerMatch
  The server will only follow symbolic links for which the target file or directory is owned by the same user id as the link.
  Note: this option gets ignored if set inside a <Location> section.

Normally, if multiple `Options` could apply to a directory, then the most specific one is taken complete; the options are not merged. However if all the options on the `Options` directive are preceded by a + or - symbol, the options are merged. Any options preceded by a + are added to the options currently in force, and any options preceded by a - are removed from the options currently in force.

For example, without any + and - symbols:

> `<Directory /web/docs>
> Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
> </Directory>
> <Directory /web/docs/spec>
> Options Includes
> </Directory>`

then only `Includes` will be set for the /web/docs/spec directory. However if the second `Options` directive uses the + and - symbols:

> `<Directory /web/docs>
> Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
> </Directory>
> <Directory /web/docs/spec>
> Options +Includes -Indexes
> </Directory>`

then the options `FollowSymLinks` and `Includes` are set for the /web/docs/spec directory.

Note: Using `-IncludesNOEXEC` or `-Includes` disables server-side includes completely regardless of the previous setting.

The default in the absence of any other settings is `All`.