Strictly speaking, Tomcat isn't a web server like Apache HTTPS Server or NGINX. ... By bringing all these Java-based technologies together, Tomcat Apache offers a “pure Java” web server environment for running applications built on the Java programming language.

Is Apache Tomcat a web server or application server?

6 Answers. Tomcat is a web server (can handle HTTP requests/responses) and web container (implements Java Servlet API, also called servletcontainer) in one. Some may call it an application server, but it is definitely not an fullfledged Java EE application server (it does not implement the whole Java EE API).

Can I use Tomcat as a web server?

Tomcat can be used as both a web server and application server where all processing is done by Tomcat. This is referred to as a Tomcat stand-alone configuration. Tomcat can be used as an application server for Java processing, while Apache HTTP Server can handle the traditional static web content.