Definition: The ".0997_user_apache.conf" line in Apache configuration file specifies an authentication mechanism used by your server to authenticate users. The term "authentication mechanism" refers to the method by which a user's credentials are verified. In this case, it is likely that a password and a digital signature is being used to validate user identities against an external system, such as an email server or an identity provider (e.g., Google). In other words, ".0997_user_apache.conf" line might specify that the Apache web server supports two authentication methods: username/password and digital signing.