Why is Apache Tomcat called a web server?

Apache Tomcat is referred to as a web server because it functions as a specialized server designed to handle HTTP requests, manage the execution of servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP), and serve dynamic content over the web. However, it's important to note that Apache Tomcat is more accurately described as a "Servlet container" or "Java Servlet container" because it primarily focuses on executing Java-based web components.

Here are the reasons why Apache Tomcat is commonly called a web server:

1. HTTP Server Capabilities:

   • Tomcat includes an HTTP server component that allows it to handle HTTP requests directly. It can serve static content (such as HTML, images, and CSS files) and dynamically generate content through the execution of servlets and JSPs.

2. Servlet Container Functionality:

   • Tomcat is a Servlet container, meaning it provides an environment for executing Java Servlets. Servlets are Java classes that extend the functionality of a web server, allowing developers to create dynamic web applications.

3. JSP Support:

   • Tomcat also supports JavaServer Pages (JSP), which are dynamic web pages written in Java. JSP pages are compiled into servlets, and Tomcat can execute these servlets to generate dynamic content.

4. HTTP Connector:

   • Tomcat includes an HTTP connector that allows it to listen for and process incoming HTTP requests. This connector enables Tomcat to function as a standalone web server or integrate with external web servers like Apache HTTP Server.

5. Web Application Deployment:

   • Tomcat allows developers to deploy and run web applications, making it suitable for hosting and managing Java-based web applications.

6. Static and Dynamic Content Serving:

   • Tomcat can serve both static content (e.g., HTML, images) and dynamic content (generated by servlets and JSPs). This dual capability aligns with the traditional role of a web server.

It's important to distinguish between a general-purpose web server, such as Apache HTTP Server or Nginx, and a Servlet container like Apache Tomcat. While a traditional web server is designed to handle various types of content and requests, a Servlet container is specifically tailored for executing Java-based web components.

In many real-world scenarios, Apache Tomcat is often used in conjunction with a traditional web server (e.g., Apache HTTP Server) where the web server handles static content and forwards dynamic requests to Tomcat for processing. This kind of setup is known as a "reverse proxy" configuration.