A public-domain Web server developed by a loosely-knit group of programmers. The first version of Apache, based on the NCSA http daemon Web server, was developed in 1995. Because it was developed from existing NCSA code and various patches, it was called "a patchy web server." Sophisticated features, excellent performance, and low price (it's free), have made Apache the world's most popular Web server. By some estimates, in 1999 it hosted more than 50% of all Web sites in the world.