Apache Tomcat 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: JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java Expression Language (Java EL) and WebSocket.
A Java Servlet is software that enables a web server to handle dynamic Java-based web content using the HTTP protocol. JSP is a similar technology that allows developers to create dynamic content using HTML or XML documents. In terms of their ability to enable dynamic content, Java Servlets and JSP are broadly comparable to PHP or ASP.NET, just based on the Java programming language.
Apache Tomcat software powers numerous large-scale, mission-critical web applications across a diverse range of industries and organizations.
This is free and open source software:
Key Features
- Implementation of the Jakarta Servlet, Jakarta Server Pages, Jakarta Expression Language, Jakarta WebSocket, Jakarta Annotations and Jakarta Authentication specifications.
- Focus is being up to date supporting the latest specification.
- Very lightweight.
- Flexibility.
- Offers sufficient functionality for many applications.
- Fast startup time.
- Quick redeploy times.
- Good memory leak detection and prevention.
- Good quality documentation.
- Embeddable.
Website: tomcat.apache.org
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Apache License 2.0
License: The Apache Software Foundation
Apache Tomcat is written in Java. Learn Java with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Java Application Servers | |
|---|---|
| TomEE | Jakarta EE 9.1 certified application server extends Apache Tomcat |
| Tomcat | Java Servlet container, or web container (technically not an application server) |
| Jetty | Provides a web server and servlet container (technically not an application server) |
| Wildfly | Powerful, modular and lightweight application server |
| Geronimo | Provides JavaEE/JakartaEE libraries and Microprofile implementations |
| Lucee | Lightweight dynamic CFML scripting language with a solid foundation |
| GlassFish | Jakarta EE platform application server |
| Payara | Middleware platform supporting deployments of Java EE and MicroProfile apps |
| JonAS | Java EE 6 web profile certified enterprise server |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |

