So, a question for you: ” What is the difference between Apache Web Server vs Tomcat?” Did the question leave you scratching your head? If yes, then don’t worry! You are not alone in this confusion that arises vague thoughts around this topic. Even developers face a lot of doubts when confronted with this question. But, to avoid this, hear this out very clearly- When someone asks this question to you, she wants to know the difference between Apache Tomcat and the Apache web Server. Note that both Apache Tomcat and Apache web Server are different projects maintained under the Apache Software Foundation i.e. they are not the same thing. Once you understand this fact, it gets easier to recognize the ill-worded nature of the Apache and Tomcat query. This confusion primarily begins from the fact that Apache has become colloquially synonymous with Apache web Server. Apache HTTP Server was established in 1999 and was the first project under Apache Software Foundation. However, the synonymous use of Apache for Apache HTTP Server resulted in the naming problem that we face today. In this blog, we will discuss the nitty-gritty of both these projects and how they differ from each other.
Before jumping directly to the difference, let us understand the basics of Apache web server vs Tomcat and their various pros and cons.