What is the Apache web server?
Apache HTTP Server (commonly called Apache) is an open-source web server software that receives requests from browsers and serves web pages in response. First released in 1995, Apache has been the most widely deployed web server on the internet for much of its history and remains one of the two dominant web server platforms today alongside Nginx.
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When you visit a website hosted on a Linux server, there is a good chance Apache is the software that receives your browser's request and sends back the webpage. Apache listens on port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS), processes the incoming request, finds the appropriate files, and returns them to the browser.
Apache uses a module-based architecture that makes it highly configurable. Modules add functionality: mod_ssl handles HTTPS encryption, mod_rewrite handles URL rewriting (used by WordPress and other CMS platforms), mod_security adds web application firewall capabilities. This flexibility has made Apache a default choice on shared hosting platforms.
Apache and Nginx are the two dominant web server platforms. Apache handles each incoming request through a process or thread model, which works well for dynamic content. Nginx uses an event-driven, asynchronous model that handles concurrent connections more efficiently for static files and high-traffic applications. Many high-traffic deployments use both: Nginx as a reverse proxy in front of Apache.
For users choosing web hosting, the choice of web server is usually made for you by the hosting provider. Most shared Linux hosting runs Apache. Many VPS setups and modern cloud deployments use Nginx or a combination of both. The web server is generally invisible to website owners running WordPress or standard PHP applications.
Common questions
Is Apache or Nginx better?
Both are excellent. Nginx generally handles high concurrency and static files more efficiently. Apache is more flexible for complex configurations and has broader module support. Many production setups use both together.
Do I need to choose a web server when buying hosting?
No. For shared and managed hosting, the web server is pre-configured by your provider. You only need to choose or configure the web server if you are managing your own VPS or dedicated server.
Does WordPress require Apache?
No. WordPress runs on both Apache and Nginx. Its .htaccess URL rewriting works natively on Apache. On Nginx, equivalent rules need to be configured manually, which managed hosts and VPS control panels typically handle for you.