What is a Handler

Related Modules	Related Directives
mod_actions mod_asis mod_cgi mod_imap mod_info mod_mime mod_negotiation mod_status	Action AddHandler RemoveHandler SetHandler

A "handler" is an internal Apache representation of the action to be performed when a file is called. Generally, files have implicit handlers, based on the file type. Normally, all files are simply served by the server, but certain file types are "handled" separately.

Apache 1.1 adds the ability to use handlers explicitly. Based on either filename extensions or on location, handlers can be specified without relation to file type. This is advantageous both because it is a more elegant solution, and because it also allows for both a type and a handler to be associated with a file. (See also Files with Multiple Extensions.)

Handlers can either be built into the server or included in a module, or they can be added with the Action directive. The built-in handlers in the standard distribution are as follows:

• default-handler: Send the file using the default_handler(), which is the handler used by default to handle static content. (core)
• send-as-is: Send file with HTTP headers as is. (mod_asis)
• cgi-script: TreHTTP/1.1 200 OK Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:02:08 GMT Server: Apache/2.0.42 (Win32) PHP/5.2.10 Content-Location: handler.html.en Vary: negotiate,accept-language,accept-charset TCN: choice Accept-Ranges: bytes Content-Length: 8637 Keep-Alive: timeout=15, max=100 Connection: Keep-Alive Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Language: en

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  Apache HTTP Server Version 2.0

  
  
  Apache > HTTP Server > Documentation > Version 2.0

  Apache's Handler Use

  This document describes the use of Apache's Handlers.

  • What is a Handler
  • Examples
  • Programmer's Note

  

  What is a Handler

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  Related Modules	Related Directives
  mod_actions mod_asis mod_cgi mod_imap mod_info mod_mime mod_negotiation mod_status	Action AddHandler RemoveHandler SetHandler