Apache Tomcat definition & meaning
An Apache Software Foundation project, Tomcat was first released in 1998. The Apache Tomcat software is an open-source implementation of the Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages, Java Expression Language, and Java WebSocket technologies. The Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages, Java Expression Language, and Java WebSocket specifications are developed under the Java Community Process. It aims to be a collaboration of the best-of-breed developers from around the world.
How does Apache Tomcat work?
In other words, Apache Software Foundation’s open-source project Apache Tomcat also known as Tomcat Server is a Java Servlet container, or web container, that provides the extended functionality to interact with Java Servlets, while also implementing several technical specifications of the Java platform like JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java Expression Language (Java EL) and WebSocket. A Java Servlet is software that enables a webserver to handle dynamic Java-based web content using the HTTP protocol. JSP uses similar technology that allows developers to create dynamic content using HTML or XML documents.
Differences between Apache Tomcat and Apache HTTP Server?
It is also needed to note that Apache Tomcat and Apache HTTP Server are different software packages. HTTP web server, which is optimized for handling static and dynamic web content, has not had the ability to manage Java Servlets and JSP. In contrast, Tomcat was developed to the JSP functionality that Apache lacked.
Apache Tomcat’s functions
Apache Tomcat has different functions. It acts as a servlet container that is used primarily for hosting Java servlets, acts as a web server that is designed to serve files from the local system, and acts as a Java enterprise application server.