Apache's Handler Use

What is a Handler

Related Modules	Related Directives
mod_actions mod_asis mod_cgi mod_imagemap 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.

Handlers may also be configured explicitly, based on either filename extensions or on location, 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: Treat the file as a CGI script. (mod_cgi)
• imap-file: Parse as an imagemap rule file. (mod_imagemap)
• server-info: Get the server's configuration information. (mod_info)
• server-status: Get the server's status report. (