How To Check the Version of Apache? (In 3 Ways)

The majority of web servers around the world use Apache or Apache HTTP Server software. Apache is an open-source software developed and maintained by the Apache Software Foundation.

It is quite fast, secure and can be customized easily for different environments by using extensions and modules. Apache runs smoothly on both Windows and Linux web servers. 

Quick jumps:

• From Web Host Manager
• Find version using cPanel
• Using SSH

What is Apache?

Apache HTTP Server is not a physical server, but rather software that runs on a server. Its function is to form a connection between a server and the browser of users to deliver files back and forth between them.

Learn more about what is Apache web server?

How Does Apache Web Server Work?

When a user wants to visit a particular page of your site, for example, contact us or services page, the browser sends a request to the server on which the site is hosted and Apache returns a response with all the requested files (text, images, etc.). 

The server and the client communicate through the HTTP protocol and Apache is responsible for the smooth and secure communication between the two machines. Apache can be customized according to your requirements as it has a module-based structure.

Modules permit server administrators to turn secondary functionalities on and off. Apache has different modules for safety, caching, URL rewriting, password authentication, and so on. You can also set up your own server settings an Apache configuration file- .htaccess.

The latest Apache version released by the Apache Software Foundation is version 2.4.41. It is the recent release from the 2.4.x stable branch and is required in order to operate a TLS 1.3 web server with OpenSSL 1.1.1.

Key benefits offered by the latest version of Apache are:-

• Multi-Process Modules (MPMs), which modify the way Apache listens to the network, accepts and handles requests to improve efficiency
• SNI (Server Name Indication), which allows multiple websites sharing a single IP address to each have their own SSL certificates installed.

#1 Checking the Apache Version Using WebHost Manager

1. Find the Server Status section and click Apache Status. You can start typing “apache” in the search menu to quickly narrow your selection. 
2. The current version of Apache appears next to the server version on the Apache status page. In this case, it is version 2.4.41. 

#2 Checking the version of Apache From cPanel 

Log in to the cPanel and find the ‘Server Information’ at the left under the ‘General Information’ section.

Here you can see which version of Apache is running on the server. 

#3 Checking the version of Apache from the shell

1.  Log in to your server as root using ssh. 
2.  Type the following command to check the apache version. 

httpd -v or /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -v

You will get the following result:-

[root@host]# httpd -v
Server version: Apache/2.4.16 (Unix)
Server built: Dec 23 2015 11:28:39
Cpanel::Easy::Apache v3.32.6 rev9999

FAQ

What is the current version of Apache?

The current version of Apache is v 2.4.46. Although, it is a minor update few security updates revolving around CVE-2020-11984 and CVE-2020-11993. The major release of the Apache server was 2.4, which comes out a decade ago.

What is better Apache or nginx?

Both Apache and Nginx have their own pros and cons. Here is the comparison between Apache and Nginx to solve all your doubts.

What language is Apache written in?

Apache is written in C and XML.

Final Words

I hope this quick tutorial helps you to find the Apache version.

If there are any issues or doubts, please leave them in the comment section.