Best way to password protect a folder?

[kodaks]

I have a folder that contains 6 or 7 .php files. I would like to password protect the folder, so I would have to enter a password to get into any of the files via my web browser.

I am wondering what the simplest way to go about this is. Thanks!

[coopster]

Is there a reason you cannot keep the files below the web root (public area)? Or are you saying you would like them to be links only accessible by a certain *authorized* user or group of users?

[Jon_King]

If you are hosting at an ISP simply tell them which folder you want protected. You may have admin services for that domain at your ISP in that case you should be able to set the permissions yourself.

[kodaks]

Thanks for the quick responses!

coopster- The folder I am trying to protect is part of a pre-made calendar script, so it all has to be in the public area.

Jon_King- I am not hosting with an ISP.

[coopster]

The quickest/easiest, but not as secure, would be a per-directory override (.htaccess, if you are using Apache).

Otherwise, you can control access via my user authentication (user/pwd database with session management).

It really depends on how secure it truly must be.