👉 Overview
👀 What ?
Tomcat is an open-source web server and servlet container developed by the Apache Software Foundation. It implements several Java EE specifications including Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java EL, and WebSocket, providing an environment for Java code to run in.
🧐 Why ?
Tomcat is widely used because it is lightweight, flexible, and reliable. It is essential for running Java applications on a web server, making it a crucial component in numerous production environments. Understanding Tomcat's functionality helps in deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Java applications effectively.
⛏️ How ?
Tomcat can be downloaded and installed from the Apache website. Once installed, it can be configured by editing its XML configuration files. Applications can then be deployed on Tomcat by placing their WAR files in the webapps directory. Tomcat's Manager application can be used to manage the applications deployed on it.
⏳ When ?
Tomcat was first released in 1998 and has been widely used in production environments since the early 2000s.
⚙️ Technical Explanations
At its core, Tomcat is a Java class library that provides the functionality of a web server. It listens for HTTP requests on a specific port, processes these requests, and returns responses. Its servlet container component provides the capability to run Java servlets, which are Java classes that can respond to specific types of network requests. Tomcat also provides additional functionalities such as session management and security authentication.