Advantages of Apache Web Server

When you visit your favorite websites, you rely on a Web server to transfer the data from the website's host to the browser on your computer or mobile device. Website owners can choose from a variety of free and paid Web server programs, such as Apache, Microsoft IIS and NGINX. Carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each type of Web server software before committing to a certain product, as it can take significant time and effort to transfer to a different one.

Apache Web Server is open source software, which means it is available for anyone to download at no cost. Its source code can be modified to suit your individual needs. This gives Apache a significant advantage over almost all of its competitors without sacrificing any features. The open source status also eliminates the recurring license and support fees required to continue running other Web server programs.

Apache is a powerful Web server program with features that compare to its high-priced competitors. The software includes an administration control panel, customizable error messages and authentication schemes. The virtual hosting module allows you to run multiple websites from the same server. In addition to the these and other standard features that are included in the installation package, such as Domain Name Service, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP), there are numerous third-party add-ons you can install to customize your Web server. The vibrant Apache developer community also produces frequent updates so you always have access to the latest features and security patches.

Apache is compatible with numerous hardware configurations and operating systems. It runs on Linux, Windows NT, MacOS, Unix and many other systems. Each installation can be tweaked to suit the technical capabilities of your hardware. Apache includes support for programming languages such as PHP, Perl and Python, among many others, along with SSL and TSL encryption for websites that require elevated security.

Technical support resources for Apache are available on multiple websites around the world. This allows server owners to access reference articles and live help whenever necessary. This gives Apache a major advantage over programs that only have a company website as a source of support. When a new bug is found, the open source user community typically creates a patch to fix it and posts the solution for free on forums and social media websites.