Apache HTTP Server, usually called Apache, is an open-source server program for the web. It serves files and pages over HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation. It reads its settings from text files and from .htaccess files in each folder.
History of Apache
Creator: Robert McCool (original author); the Apache Group, later the Apache Software Foundation. Year: 1995.
Apache began in early 1995. Work on the NCSA HTTPd server code had stalled. Apache was first based on NCSA HTTPd. A group of developers continued the code. The first version was a set of patches on existing code.
Apache had a key role in early Web growth. It quickly overtook NCSA HTTPd as the main web server for HTTP. Robert McCool, the original author, is named in the Wikipedia article. He is named as the first developer. In 2009 Apache became the first web server software to serve more than 100 million websites.1 The project home page describes Apache HTTP Server as an open-source web server. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and most Unix-like systems.
The Wikipedia infobox lists April 1995 as the first release. The project later became the Apache Software Foundation. The foundation owns the Apache name and its trademarks. It publishes the source code under the Apache License 2.0. Version 2.2 reached end-of-life with its final release, 2.2.34, in July 2017. Version 2.4 is the stable branch. It still receives updates.
Changelog and latest update
The Event multi-processing module (MPM) is part of the 2.4 series. It mixes processes and threads inside an event loop. The mpm_event page in the 2.4 manual describes it and lists fixes from 2.4.24 and 2.4.28 onward.
The official project page lists HTTP/2, content caching and reverse proxy. These are features of Apache httpd. The page says Apache 2.4.43 or newer is needed for a TLS 1.3 server. The server must be built with OpenSSL 1.1.1. Version 2.2 is listed as end-of-life. Its final release was 2.2.34 in July 2017. No new security fixes are published for it. Users are asked to move to the 2.4 series.
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.69 is the newest stable release. The Apache Software Foundation announced it on 2026-10-01. It is the newest release of the 2.4 branch. Its change log comes with the release. The project security page lists the fixed vulnerabilities for each 2.4 release.
Latest update: Apache HTTP Server 2.4.69, 2026-10-01
The Apache Software Foundation released Apache HTTP Server 2.4.69 on 2026-10-01. The release came from the 2.4.x stable branch. The release page links to a change log for 2.4.69. It also links to a complete change log for the 2.4 series. Administrators who run 2.2 must move to 2.4.x. Version 2.2 no longer receives security updates. The release page is the source for the version and date.
Usage examples
Apache reads its settings from httpd.conf. It also reads included files. A virtual host block tells Apache which domain uses which folder. The examples show four tasks. They show a virtual host, a syntax check before a restart, and the command to enable a module on Debian-based systems. The last one checks that the server answers on port 80.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/example
<Directory /var/www/example>
AllowOverride All
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>This block serves the folder /var/www/example for requests to example.com on port 80. The AllowOverride All line lets .htaccess files in that folder change the settings. The block goes in the Apache configuration or in a file that the configuration includes.
apachectl -t
# Syntax OKThe apachectl -t command checks the Apache configuration for errors without restarting the server. A reply of Syntax OK means the files can be loaded. Run this check before every restart. Then a typing error cannot stop the web server.
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2On Debian and Ubuntu systems, a2enmod enables an Apache module. The systemctl command restarts the service. The rewrite module is needed for RewriteRule lines in .htaccess files. The service name apache2 is the Debian name for Apache.
curl -I http://example.com/
# HTTP/1.1 200 OKThe curl -I request asks the Apache server for the headers of the home page. A status of 200 OK means the virtual host answered and the file was found. A status of 404 means the file is missing or the DocumentRoot is wrong.
References
These sources are outside Websnoogie and were checked on 2026-10-12.
Apache HTTP Server
Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation
Encyclopedia article on the Apache HTTP Server. It covers the 1995 origin from NCSA HTTPd, the 2009 milestone of 100 million websites, the name pun, the Event MPM in version 2.4 and the Apache License.
The Apache HTTP Server Project
The Apache Software Foundation
Official project home page. It announces the 2.4.69 release dated 2026-10-01, lists the 2.2 end-of-life date of July 2017, and links to the change logs, the download page and the documentation.
Apache HTTP Server 2.4 documentation
The Apache Software Foundation
Official manual for the 2.4 series. It lists the configuration directives, modules, multi-processing modules and how-to guides, including the guide for .htaccess files that the examples use.
Apache core directives
The Apache Software Foundation
Reference for the core directives, including VirtualHost, DocumentRoot, Directory and AllowOverride. These are the directives used in the virtual host example, and the page explains where each one may appear in a configuration file.
Apache security vulnerabilities for 2.4
The Apache Software Foundation
Official list of security issues fixed in the 2.4 series, with the versions that fixed each issue. Administrators use it to decide when to upgrade a server and which release contains each fix.
Apache License, Version 2.0
The Apache Software Foundation
Text of the Apache License 2.0, the license under which the Apache HTTP Server is published. It sets the terms for use, copying, modification and distribution of the software.
Apache settings that keep your pages loading
Small businesses in Omaha and across Nebraska often hear the word Apache and wonder if it matters. Apache is web server software. It receives each request from a visitor and returns the right page. When Apache is set up well, pages load quickly and redirects work the way you planned. When it is set up poorly, visitors see errors.
We have worked in web design for more than 20 years. Our CMS hosting plan for WordPress sites is $149 a year. We adjust the settings that matter for your site, such as caching, file types and redirects, so the server does its job without extra steps. Each change is written down in plain words.
Before we change a setting, we test the page it affects. A wrong redirect can send a customer to a blank page, so we check each one. We also read the error logs that show a broken link or a missing image. Then we fix the cause, not only the symptom.
Put your server questions to us. Phone 402-813-4034 and we will answer, or open the build page using the button below. We explain each setting before it changes.
