What is Apache?

[opel]

This may be a stupid question but what is Apache? I thought it was a program that could run various types of scripts: ASP, HTML,SWFS and PHP if installed?

But I have read so amny posts about it I am confused. Could someone please give me a brief run down of what it is and does?:q:

Thanks

[ratbaggy]

http://httpd.apache.org/

[λ]

Apache is a program called a web server. In its most basic form, it simply listens on port 80 and gives pages to other computers that request them.

It is probably the most popular, widely run webserver ever programmed, and many people also use it to test server-side scripts like PHP as you mentioned.

It cannot, however, run ASP without a commercial addon, as ASP is a microsoft proprietary product.

[opel]

So how does this work with my web host? Or if I have a web host would I only use Apache as a testing server?