The Apache Module API

1. Add functionality directly to server.
2. Dynamically loaded modules -- no need to recompile or relink.
3. Full access to server API.
4. C interface.
5. Perl (mod_perl) interface.

Advantages

1. Much faster than CGI scripts.
2. Can do amazing things with API:
   • Dynamic URL translation (e.g. load balancing)
   • MIME type lookup from database.
   • Role-based authentication.
   • Proxy server (e.g. banner ad blocker)

Disadvantages

1. Non-portable.
2. Bugs in modules can crash server.
3. No process-level security in multiauthor environments.

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