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Apache Tomcat VS Apache

Compare Apache Tomcat VS Apache and see what are their differences

Apache Tomcat logo Apache Tomcat

An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

Apache logo Apache

Home page of The Apache Software Foundation
  • Apache Tomcat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-24
  • Apache Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04

Apache Tomcat features and specs

  • Open Source
    Apache Tomcat is an open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and modifications. This can significantly reduce the cost of ownership and allows for customization.
  • Community Support
    Being a widely-used open-source server, Tomcat has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its documentation, plugins, and forums, providing extensive support.
  • Lightweight
    Tomcat is designed to be a lightweight servlet container, making it faster and less resource-intensive compared to full-blown Java EE application servers.
  • Integration with Popular Frameworks
    Tomcat integrates well with popular Java frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate, making it easier for developers to deploy and manage web applications.
  • Easy to Set Up and Configure
    Tomcat is relatively easy to set up and configure, making it suitable for both development and production environments.
  • Frequent Updates
    Regular updates and patches are released to improve performance, security, and compatibility, ensuring the server is up-to-date with the latest web technologies.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Tomcat

  • Limited Functionality
    While Tomcat is a powerful servlet container, it lacks some of the advanced features found in full-fledged Java EE application servers, which might be necessary for complex enterprise applications.
  • Resource Management
    Tomcat's default configuration might not be suitable for high traffic web applications, requiring significant tweaking and tuning to handle heavy loads effectively.
  • Documentation Quality
    The documentation, while extensive, can sometimes be hard to navigate and understand, especially for beginners. This can slow down the learning curve.
  • Limited Built-in Tools
    Compared to other full-stack application servers, Tomcat comes with limited built-in tooling for monitoring, load balancing, and clustering, often requiring third-party solutions.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any open-source project, security vulnerabilities may emerge. It requires constant monitoring and timely updates to ensure security.
  • Lack of EJB Support
    Tomcat does not support Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), limiting its use in scenarios where EJB is a crucial component of the architecture.

Apache features and specs

  • Open Source
    Apache HTTP Server is an open-source software, so it is free to use, modify, and distribute according to the terms of the Apache License. This provides flexibility and cost savings for developers and organizations.
  • Community Support
    There is a large community of developers and users who contribute to Apache HTTP Server, providing extensive documentation, forums, and support. This makes troubleshooting and finding resources easier.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Apache HTTP Server is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including UNIX, Linux, MacOS, and Windows, allowing for flexibility in deployment environments.
  • Highly Configurable
    Apache is highly configurable through its numerous modules which can be used to extend its capabilities and customize its behavior to meet specific needs.
  • Proven Stability and Security
    Apache has been around for a long time and is known for its stability and reliability. Regular security updates and patches help maintain its robust security posture.

Possible disadvantages of Apache

  • Resource Intensive
    Apache can be more resource-intensive than other lightweight web servers, potentially leading to higher memory and CPU usage on large-scale deployments.
  • Complex Configuration
    The configuration of Apache can be complex, requiring significant expertise to optimize performance and ensure security in more comprehensive deployment scenarios.
  • Performance
    In some situations, especially with static content, Apache can be outperformed by newer web servers like Nginx, which may offer better speed and efficiency under high loads.
  • Thread-Based Architecture
    Apache’s thread-based architecture can be less efficient in handling a large number of concurrent connections compared to event-driven architectures.

Apache Tomcat videos

Introducing Apache Tomcat 8.5

More videos:

  • Review - Webinar: Introduction to Apache Tomcat 8
  • Review - Tcat - The Leading Enterprise Apache Tomcat Application Server

Apache videos

2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 Complete & Honest Review with new price update | Pearl White Apache 160 ⚡⚡⚡

More videos:

  • Review - 2020 New TVS Apache RTR 160 4V (BS6) Detailed Review | New Changes | Walkaround | Price | Features⚡⚡
  • Review - TVS Apache 160 2v BS6 Review - High On Price !!!
  • Review - TVS Apache RTR 310 Realtime Review after Testing - Things to know |Who can buy?
  • Review - Experience the FIREPOWER of the AH-64 Apache!
  • Review - Yamaha MT-15 V2 vs TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Comparison Review: The Best Beginner Sporty Street Bike

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache Tomcat and Apache)
Web And Application Servers
Application Server
95 95%
5% 5
Web Servers
93 93%
7% 7
Java
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Apache Tomcat and Apache

Apache Tomcat Reviews

FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
Java programs are run using Apache Tomcat. To be more precise, it is a Java servlet – a Java software component that expands the functionality of a web server. Apache Tomcat, released under the Apache License version 2, is used by 0.1% of websites worldwide.
Source: www.zentao.pm
4 Open Source Application Servers (Comparison and Review)
Apache Tomcat is an open-source implementation of several Java technologies. It is the result of a collaboration of the finest developers worldwide. You can get involved with the development in a number of ways.
Source: shadow-soft.com
Top 5 open source web servers
Apache Tomcat is an open source Java servlet container that functions as a web server. A Java servlet is a Java program that extends the capabilities of a server. Although servlets can respond to any types of requests, they most commonly implement applications hosted on Web servers. Such web servlets are the Java counterpart to other dynamic web content technologies such as...
Source: opensource.com
Top 10 Open Source Java and JavaEE Application Servers
It is built upon a modular kernel powered by OSGi, and runs straight on top of the Apache Felix implementation. It is also capable of running with Equinox OSGi or Knopflerfish OSGi runtimes. HK2 abstracts the OSGi module system to provide components, which can also be viewed as services and injected into the run time and uses a derivative of Apache Tomcat as the servlet...

Apache Reviews

Apache, IIS, NGINX, GWS : What’s Your Choice?
Utilizing a specific type of virtual or physical server determines the type of web server software you use. If you prefer Microsoft, then you will prefer to use IIS (Internet Information Services / Server) by Microsoft as your primary web server application solution. If you use Linux distribution, you have other alternatives like Apache, NGINX and LiteSpeed.
Source: www.milesweb.in
FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
According to W3Techs, the most popular web server is the Apache HTTP Server, which is used by 34.1% of websites as of March 2021. The BuiltWith Internet services corporation has 62,624,313 live websites that use Apache. ZenTao uses Apache to start its server for ALM project management tool users.
Source: www.zentao.pm
What Is the Most Popular Web Server Application in 2021?
Despite being bundled with most modern Microsoft software, IIS loses out to Apache on its own devices. The main selling point here is performance. While IIS has kept up with Apache in recent times, Apache has historically been performing much better, which still gives it an edge over IIS.
Top Linux Web Servers: Pros and Cons
Now that we know their advantages and disadvantages, which web server is the best? The answer depends on your use case. Nginx is a very fast and powerful option, Apache is a great general-purpose web server, while LiteSpeed represents a premium alternative. Caddy works great if you need simplicity, while Lighthttpd works best when resources are low.
Source: bigstep.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Apache might be a bit more popular than Apache Tomcat. We know about 23 links to it since March 2021 and only 17 links to Apache Tomcat. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache Tomcat mentions (17)

  • Java News: WildFly 36, Spring Milestones, and Open Liberty Updates
    Versions 11.0.6 and 9.0.104 of Apache Tomcat deliver new features and improvements. The release notes can be found for both versions. - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • Artifactory: Centralizing Artifact Management for DevOps Success
    Download and Install Tomcat Before downloading, confirm the latest Tomcat build package from the official website. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • How to Deploy Applications Using Tomcat on a Web Server
    First, download the latest version of Tomcat from the official Apache Tomcat website. Choose the version that suits your needs, typically the latest stable release. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Spring Boot Monitoring with Open-Source Tools
    Manual instrumentation allows you to define your Spans within the code itself rather than relying on automatic instrumentation finding the entry point for a trace. Manual instrumentation is especially helpful for applications that don’t use an application server such as Tomcat, JBoss, or Jetty. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Issue with chatgpy
    99% is a huge exaggeration. Two essential deployment tools off the top of my head: Https://tomcat.apache.org/ Https://docs.jboss.org/author/display/AS71/Developer%20Guide.html. Source: about 2 years ago
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Apache mentions (23)

  • Navigating the Future: Sustainable Funding for Open Source
    Non-Profit Foundations: Foundations like the Apache Software Foundation and the Linux Foundation pool resources to support critical open source projects. These organizations ensure the proper allocation of funds and provide necessary infrastructure and governance. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Install Apache on Windows in a Few Simple Steps
    The Apache Software Foundation offers open source software used around the world, with over 8,400 committers contributing to more than 320 active projects [https://apache.org/]. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Shades of Open Source - Understanding The Many Meanings of "Open"
    It's this kind of certainty that underscores the vital role of the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). Many first encounter Apache through its pioneering project, the open-source web server framework that remains ubiquitous in web operations today. The ASF was initially created to hold the intellectual property and assets of the Apache project, and it has since evolved into a cornerstone for open-source projects... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Why Do I Love Open Source?
    Back in 2015, Java was owned by Sun Microsystems (now part of Oracle) and along with MySQL had a thriving open-source community and ecosystem. A lot of this was under the Apache and Eclipse Foundations. I fondly remember projects such as Tomcat, BERT, the Eclipse IDE, Maven, and so forth. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Tarsnap has given 2^18 dollars to open source
    That might be an issue for smaller projects but at larger scales there is often an associated charity. For example https://apache.org/ and https://numfocus.org/community/mission are both 501(c)(3) registered charitable organizations. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache Tomcat and Apache, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft IIS - Internet Information Services is a web server for Microsoft Windows

nginx - A high performance free open source web server powering busiest sites on the Internet.

LiteSpeed Web Server - LiteSpeed Web Server (LSWS) is a high-performance Apache drop-in replacement.

lighttpd - A secure, fast, compliant, and very flexible web-server that has been optimized for high-performance environments

Apache HTTP Server - Apache httpd has been the most popular web server on the Internet since April 1996

XAMPP - XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server that is primarily used when locally developing web applications.