Apache

Apache HTTP Server, often simply called Apache, is a free and open-source cross-platform web server software, released under the Apache License. It plays a foundational role in serving web content over the internet, handling HTTP requests and responses to deliver websites to users. Known for its…

Key facts

First appeared: 1995
Category: technology
Problem solved: Apache HTTP Server was created to provide a stable, reliable, and extensible open-source web server to host the rapidly growing number of websites. Its primary goal was to address the stagnation and lack of ongoing support for the NCSA HTTPd server, which was widely used but no longer actively maintained, by consolidating community-contributed patches and building a robust, modular platform for future web infrastructure.
Platforms: Windows, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, macOS, Linux, Solaris

Related technologies

Notable users

Netflix (historically, now more cloud-native)
IBM
Salesforce
Many shared hosting providers (e.g., GoDaddy, Bluehost)
Government agencies
Universities