Are htaccess files invisible

In the process of uploading my WAMP test zc 155 to live server (linux) by ftp, the htaccess files don't seem to want to upload. Tried to uplaod them individually - a message flashes but it disappears before I can see what the message is, and the file doesn't show up.

I just tried doing it via the cpanel file manager.When I click to upload I get a message from panel that the file is already there, do want to overwrite it. But I don't see it.

Are these files supposed to be there but not show.

Yes, they are hidden files like all files staring with a dot (.) . Most ftp programms offer an option to make them visible

And often times such files may not be visible when using certain tools under the cpanel. (For security reasons presumably.)