How does a CHMOD setting of 644 prevent a browser from reading a file?

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

It says "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"

How does the setting of 644 on a file prevent a browser from reading
it?

Re: How does a CHMOD setting of 644 prevent a browser from readinga file?

Reporter wrote:
> I was reading "Comprehensive guide to .htaccess" at
> http://www.javascriptkit.com/howto/htaccess.shtml
>
> It says "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"
>
> How does the setting of 644 on a file prevent a browser from reading
> it?
>
I already answered you: there is an option in the httpd.conf file.

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