Apache Software is a free and open-source software that allows users to deploy their websites on the internet. It is one of the oldest and most reliable web server software maintained by the Apache Software Foundation, with the first version released in 1995. It is one of the go-to web servers for website owners, developers, and even hosting providers, dominating the market share by 33% across all websites.
In addition to its popularity, it’s also one of the oldest web servers, with its first release all the way back in 1995. Many cPanel hosts utilize Apache today. Like other web servers, Apache powers the behind-the-scenes aspects of serving your website’s files to visitors.
Because it doesn’t perform as well in some benchmarks, especially for static websites or websites with high traffic, Kinsta uses the NGINX web server instead of Apache. Though NGINX hasn’t been around for as long as Apache, it’s quickly grown in popularity and market share since its launch in 2004.
Although we call Apache a web server, it is not a physical server, but rather a software that runs on an HTTP server. Its job is to establish a connection between a server and the browsers of website visitors (Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, etc.) while delivering files back and forth between them (client-server structure). The Apache software is also compatible with any operating system, from Windows to Unix.
When a visitor wants to load a page on your website, for instance, the homepage or your “About Us” page, their browser sends a request to your server, and Apache returns a response with all the requested files (text, images, etc.).
The server and the client communicate through the HTTP protocol, and the Apache web server is responsible for the smooth and secure communication between the two machines.
Apache is highly customizable, thanks to its open-source infrastructure. Due to this, web developers and users can adapt its source code according to the type of website they’re creating.
In addition, Apache provides plenty of modules that allow server administrators to turn additional functionalities on and off. The Apache web server has modulesfor security, caching, URL rewriting, password authentication, and other features.
To configure Apache, you’ll need to access .htaccess. This Apache configuration file is supported by all Hostinger plans
An Apache web server can be an excellent choice to run your website on a stable and versatile platform. However, it also comes with some disadvantages you need to pay attention to.
Pros:
Open-source and free, even for commercial use.
Reliable, stable software.
Frequently updated security patches.
Flexible due to its module-based structure.
Easy to configure, beginner-friendly.
Cross-platform (works on both Unix and Windows servers).
Optimal deliverability for static files and compatibility with any programming language (PHP, Python, etc)
Works out of the box with WordPress sites.
Huge community and easily available support in case of any problem.
Cons:
Performance problems on extremely traffic-heavy websites.
Too many configuration options can lead to security vulnerabilities.
