Apache 2 Pocket Reference

Chapter 6. Content Handlers

Apache offers many ways of generating content, such as static files, CGI scripts, automatically generated directory indexes, server status pages, and customized error responses. Content is generated by handlers; Table 6-1 lists the handlers provided by the modules distributed with Apache.

Table 6-1. Standard built-in handlers

Handler name	Module	Description
default-handler	core	Static content
cgi-script	mod_cgi	Content generated by a CGI script
imap-file	mod_imagemap	Server-side imagemap file
isapi-handler	mod_isapi	Content generated by an ISAPI extension
send-as-is	mod_asis	File includes HTTP headers and is sent as-is
server-info	mod_info	Generated server configuration information page
server-status	mod_status	Generated server status page
type-map	mod_negotiation	Content negotiation type map

Apache also provides a filtering mechanism that allows requests to be modified before they are handled and allows the output of the handler to be handled. Filters are covered in the next chapter.

The content handler and any filters that apply are determined as the metainformation for the request is set up.

Handler Configuration

Handlers are named internal functions that generate content. How the content is generated is determined according to the handler or the MIME type that has been set for the resource. If no handler is specified, then a default handler that simply sends the contents of a file as the response is used.

AddHandler

SVDH* (FileInfo)

mod_mime (B)

AddHandler handler-name ext ... ...