The Apache HTTP Server, commonly known as Apache or Apache2, is one of the most widely used web servers globally. Released in 1995 by the Apache Software Foundation, it provides robust features that make it popular for serving web content.
Apache is renowned for its reliability, flexibility, and extensive feature set. It supports a wide range of functionalities through its modular architecture, allowing administrators to enable or disable specific features as needed. This makes it highly customizable and suitable for various web hosting needs, from small personal websites to large enterprise applications. Apache’s open-source nature ensures continuous improvement and community support, making it a secure and up-to-date choice for web hosting.
| Version Type | Version | Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stable | 2.4.66 | 2025-12-04 | Current |
| Legacy | 2.2.x | 2017-07-11 | EOL (End of Life) |
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.66 addresses multiple security vulnerabilities. Users running versions 2.4.30 through 2.4.65 should upgrade immediately.
.htaccess per-directory configurationmod_rewrite for URL manipulationmod_sslApache offers different processing models:
| MPM | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| prefork | Process-based, non-threaded | Legacy applications, mod_php |
| worker | Hybrid multi-threaded | High traffic, threaded-safe modules |
| event | Asynchronous, event-driven | High concurrency, modern deployments |
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| mod_rewrite | URL redirection and rewriting |
| mod_ssl | HTTPS/SSL encryption |
| mod_proxy | Reverse proxy and load balancing |
| mod_security | Web application firewall (WAF) |
| mod_cache | Content caching |
| mod_deflate | Compression |
| mod_headers | HTTP header manipulation |
| mod_auth* | Authentication and authorization |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Initial Release | April 1995 (v0.6.2) |
| Stable Release | 2.4.66 (December 4, 2025) |
| Developer | Apache Software Foundation |
| Written In | C |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Operating System | Cross-platform |
| Architecture | Modular, MPM-based |
As of 2025, Apache holds approximately 26.4% market share across all websites (W3Techs), making it the #2 web server globally after NGINX (33.8%).
| Metric | Market Share | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| W3Techs (2025) | 26.4% | #2 |
| Netcraft (busiest sites) | 17.83% | #2 |
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Web Server | Serve static and dynamic content |
| Virtual Hosting | Host multiple domains on one server |
| Reverse Proxy | Forward requests to backend servers |
| Load Balancer | Distribute traffic across servers |
| Application Server | Run PHP, Python, Perl applications |
| Development Server | Local development and testing |
Debian/Ubuntu:
/etc/apache2/apache2.conf # Main configuration
/etc/apache2/ports.conf # Port bindings
/etc/apache2/sites-available/ # Virtual host configs
/etc/apache2/mods-available/ # Module configs
/var/www/html/ # Default document root
/var/log/apache2/ # Log files
RHEL/CentOS:
/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf # Main configuration
/etc/httpd/conf.d/ # Additional configs
/var/www/html/ # Default document root
/var/log/httpd/ # Log files
# Check status
sudo systemctl status apache2 # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo systemctl status httpd # RHEL/CentOS
# Start/Stop/Restart
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl stop apache2
sudo systemctl restart apache2
sudo systemctl reload apache2 # Graceful reload
# Test configuration
sudo apache2ctl configtest # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo httpd -t # RHEL/CentOS
# List modules
apache2ctl -M
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