Hello there. In this lesson, we'll talk about what is Apache. So, let's start. Apache is an open source, free web server software that powers 46% of the world's websites. It's official name is Apache http server, and it was developed by the Apache Software Foundation. It provides website owners with the ability to publish their content on the Internet, and this is where the name web server comes from. It's one of the oldest and most reliable web servers. Its first version was released over 20 years ago. When anyone wants to enter a website, they enter the domain name into the browser's toolbar. Then the web server delivers the requested files as a virtual courier. At hosting jar, Apache is used in parallel with another web server software, NGINX in our web hosting infrastructure. 

Thanks to this special setup, we can take advantage of both worlds. By taking the strengths of both software, we close the weak parts and thus, provide stronger server performance. How does Apache web server work? Although, we call Apache a web server, it's not a physical server. It's just software running on the server. Its job is to move files back and forth creating a bridge between the server and the website users, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. Apache is cross-platform software so it can run on both UNIX and Windows servers. When a visitor tries to load a page on your website such as the homepage or 'About Me' page, the browser sends a request to your server and Apache sends a response with all the requested files, text, images, etc. 

Server and client communicate via http protocol and Apache is responsible for smooth and secure communication. Apache is highly customizable because it's module-based. These modules give server administrators a chance to turn some different functions off and on. Apache has modules such as security, cache, URL writing, password authorization. If you wish, you can create your own server configuration with a .htaccess file, which is the Apache configuration file supported on all hosting jar plans. Apache pros and cons. Apache web server is a great choice to run your website on a stable and versatile platform. However, it also has some disadvantages that you should be aware of. Pros: open source and free. Included for commercial uses. Reliable stable software. It's frequently updated, security patches are released regularly, Flexibility. Thanks to its module-based structure. 

Easily configurable; easy for beginners. Its cross-platform runs on both UNIX and Windows servers, it can run by default on WordPress sites, it has a huge community and you can easily find support for any issue. Cons; performance problems on high traffic websites because of too many configuration options, security vulnerabilities can occur. So, what is Apache? Apache is one of the most popular web servers that helps you to set up a secure website without much headache. It's the preferred choice of small and medium-sized businesses that want online awareness. You can easily set up a WordPress site without any settings on an Apache web server. In addition, Apache can work very well with other content management systems, Jumla, Drupal, etc, Web frameworks, Django, Laravel, etc., and programming languages. For this reason, it's a very good choice for any web hosting platform such as VPSS or unlimited shared hosting. So, that's it. Hope to see you in our next lesson. Have a nice day.