---
name: "httpd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "apache"
version: "2.4.69-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/httpd"
---

# httpd(8)

Apache Hypertext Transfer Protocol Server

## NAME

httpd - Apache Hypertext Transfer Protocol Server

## SYNOPSIS

**httpd** \[ -**d** *serverroot* \] \[ -**f** *config* \] \[ -**C** *directive* \] \[ -**c** *directive* \] \[ -**D** *parameter* \] \[ -**e** *level* \] \[ -**E** *file* \] \[ **-k** start\|restart\|graceful\|stop\|graceful-stop \] \[ -**h** \] \[ -**l** \] \[ -**L** \] \[ -**S** \] \[ -**t** \] \[ -**v** \] \[ -**V** \] \[ -**X** \] \[ -**M** \] \[ -**T** \]

On Windows systems, the following additional arguments are available:

**httpd** \[ -**k** install\|config\|uninstall \] \[ -**n** *name* \] \[ -**w** \]

## SUMMARY

**httpd** is the Apache HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server program. It is designed to be run as a standalone daemon process. When used like this it will create a pool of child processes or threads to handle requests.

In general, **httpd** should not be invoked directly, but rather should be invoked via  **apachectl** on Unix-based systems or as a service on Windows NT, 2000 and XP and as a console application on Windows 9x and ME.

## OPTIONS

- **-d** *serverroot*

  Set the initial value for the ServerRoot directive to *serverroot*. This can be overridden by the ServerRoot directive in the configuration file. The default is **/usr/local/apache2**.

- **-f** *config*

  Uses the directives in the file *config* on startup. If *config* does not begin with a /, then it is taken to be a path relative to the ServerRoot. The default is **conf/httpd.conf**.

- **-k start\|restart\|graceful\|stop\|graceful-stop**

  Signals **httpd** to start, restart, or stop. See Stopping Apache httpd for more information.

- **-C** *directive*

  Process the configuration *directive* before reading config files.

- **-c** *directive*

  Process the configuration *directive* after reading config files.

- **-D** *parameter*

  Sets a configuration *parameter* which can be used with \<IfDefine\> sections in the configuration files to conditionally skip or process commands at server startup and restart. Also can be used to set certain less-common startup parameters including **-DNO\_DETACH** (prevent the parent from forking) and **-DFOREGROUND** (prevent the parent from calling **setsid()** et al).

- **-e** *level*

  Sets the LogLevel to *level* during server startup. This is useful for temporarily increasing the verbosity of the error messages to find problems during startup.

- **-E** *file*

  Send error messages during server startup to *file*.

- **-h**

  Output a short summary of available command line options.

- **-l**

  Output a list of modules compiled into the server. This will **not** list dynamically loaded modules included using the LoadModule directive.

- **-L**

  Output a list of directives provided by static modules, together with expected arguments and places where the directive is valid. Directives provided by shared modules are not listed.

- **-M**

  Dump a list of loaded Static and Shared Modules.

- **-S**

  Show the settings as parsed from the config file (currently only shows the virtualhost settings).

- **-T** (Available in 2.3.8 and later)

  Skip document root check at startup/restart.

- **-t**

  Run syntax tests for configuration files only. The program immediately exits after these syntax parsing tests with either a return code of 0 (Syntax OK) or return code not equal to 0 (Syntax Error). If -D *DUMP*\_*VHOSTS* is also set, details of the virtual host configuration will be printed. If -D *DUMP*\_*MODULES*  is set, all loaded modules will be printed.

- **-v**

  Print the version of **httpd**, and then exit.

- **-V**

  Print the version and build parameters of **httpd**, and then exit.

- **-X**

  Run httpd in debug mode. Only one worker will be started and the server will not detach from the console.

## FILES

The default paths listed below may be changed at compile time or with various command-line and configuration directives. Consult your local installation for the actual locations.

- **/usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf**

  Main server configuration file.

- **/usr/local/apache2/conf/mime.types**

  Default MIME type mappings.

- **/usr/local/apache2/logs/error\_log**

  Error log file.

- **/usr/local/apache2/logs/access\_log**

  Access log file.

- **/usr/local/apache2/logs/httpd.pid**

  File containing the process ID of the running daemon.

The following arguments are available only on the Windows platform:

- **-k install\|config\|uninstall**

  Install Apache httpd as a Windows NT service; change startup options for the Apache httpd service; and uninstall the Apache httpd service.

- **-n** *name*

  The *name* of the Apache httpd service to signal.

- **-w**

  Keep the console window open on error so that the error message can be read.