Password protect a directory using htaccess and htpasswd

Here is how you can password protect a directory using htpasswd and .htaccess files:

mkdir /path/to/new/directory/YOURNEWDIRECTORY
cd /path/to/new/directory/YOURNEWDIRECTORY
htpasswd -c .htpasswd YOURUSER

Next, edit/create an .htaccess file in the same directory containing:

AuthUserFile /path/to/new/directory/YOURNEWDIRECTORY/.htpasswd
AuthType Basic
AuthName "YOURDESCRIPTION"
Require valid-user

NOTE: A absolute path is required for the AuthUserFile directive.