The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache, is a free and open-source web server software that has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the World Wide Web. It is maintained by an open community of developers under the auspices of the Apache Software Foundation.
The Apache HTTP Server project began in early 1995, initiated by a group of eight webmasters known as “The Apache Group” who aimed to create a more robust, flexible, and efficient web server. The project was an open-source alternative to the NCSA HTTPd server, which had stalled in development.
The name “Apache” was chosen as a pun on “a patchy server,” referring to the fact that the first version was a set of patches applied to the NCSA HTTPd code.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1995 | First public release (version 0.6.2) |
| June 1995 | Switch to new “Shambhala” server base architecture |
| December 1995 | Apache 1.0 released |
| 1996 | Apache surpasses NCSA as the most-used web server |
| 1999 | Apache Software Foundation incorporated |
| Version | Release Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6.2 | April 1995 | First public release |
| 1.0 | December 1995 | First official stable release |
| 1.1 | November 1996 | Added shared object support |
| 1.2 | April 1997 | Improved performance and stability |
| 1.3 | June 1998 | Major rewrite, DSO support, Windows version |
Apache 1.3 (June 1998) was a significant release that introduced:
Apache 2.x brought major architectural improvements, making it more scalable and suitable for large deployments.
| Version | Release Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0.0 | April 2002 | MPMs, APR, IPv6 support, Windows optimization |
| 2.0.64 | July 2014 | Final 2.0.x release |
| 2.2.0 | December 2005 | Proxy improvements, caching, authentication |
| 2.2.34 | July 2017 | Final 2.2.x release (EOL) |
| 2.4.0 | February 2012 | Event MPM, improved performance, new authz |
| 2.4.66 | December 2025 | Current stable release |
Major architectural changes:
Key improvements:
mod_proxy, mod_cache)A major leap in performance and resource efficiency:
mod_cache, mod_cache_socache improvementsmod_authz_core for flexible access controlLatest Release: 2.4.66 (December 4, 2025)
Key features of Apache 2.4.x:
Apache uses a semantic versioning system:
2.4.66)The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) was formed in June 1999 to provide organizational and legal support for the Apache project. The ASF is a non-profit corporation that:
Apache projects follow the Apache Way:
| Year | Apache | NGINX | IIS | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ~60% | <1% | ~20% | ~19% |
| 2010 | ~55% | ~10% | ~15% | ~20% |
| 2015 | ~45% | ~25% | ~10% | ~20% |
| 2020 | ~30% | ~35% | ~5% | ~30% |
| 2025 | ~26% | ~34% | ~4% | ~36% |
Source: W3Techs historical data
Over time, Apache has faced competition from other web servers:
| Competitor | Strengths | Apache’s Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| NGINX | Performance, low memory, static content | Flexibility, .htaccess, modules |
| LiteSpeed | Performance, drop-in replacement | Open source, community support |
| IIS | Windows integration, ASP.NET | Cross-platform, open source |
| Caddy | Automatic HTTPS, simplicity | Maturity, module ecosystem |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Latest Version | 2.4.66 (December 4, 2025) |
| Development Status | Active |
| Support Status | 2.4.x supported, 2.2.x EOL |
| Market Share | ~26% (W3Techs 2025) |
| Rank | #2 web server globally |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Developer | Apache Software Foundation |
There has been discussion about Apache 3.0, though no official release has been announced. Considerations include:
Given the long-term support and continuous development of the 2.4.x series, Apache 2.4 remains the go-to for many users.
Apache is used by many high-profile organizations including:
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