Apache HTTP Server (Apache httpd)

The Apache HTTP Server (httpd) is a free, open-source, cross-platform web server. It is one of the most popular web servers in the world, powering a significant portion of the internet.

Overview

Apache was created by the Apache Software Foundation and has been continuously developed since 1995. It is known for its flexibility, modularity, and extensive documentation. Apache uses a modular architecture where functionality is added through dynamically loadable modules.

Key Features

  • Modular architecture: load only the modules you need
  • Virtual hosting (name-based and IP-based)
  • URL rewriting with mod_rewrite
  • SSL/TLS support with mod_ssl
  • Authentication and authorization (basic, digest, LDAP)
  • Proxy and reverse proxy capabilities (mod_proxy)
  • .htaccess files for per-directory configuration
  • Wide platform support (Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD)

Licensing

Apache httpd is released under the Apache License 2.0, a permissive open-source license approved by the Open Source Initiative.

See Apache License 2.0 for details.

Official Resources