modfastcgi

mod_fastcgi is an Apache HTTP Server module that implements the FastCGI protocol. FastCGI is a standardized, open, and efficient way to interface external programs (like web applications written in Python, Ruby, Perl, or PHP) with a web server. Unlike traditional CGI, which forks a new process for every incoming request, FastCGI keeps application processes alive. This persistence significantly reduces the overhead associated with process creation, leading to improved performance and scalability for dynamic web applications.

When a request arrives for a FastCGI-enabled application, mod_fastcgi passes the request to a pre-existing, running FastCGI application process. The application processes the request and sends the response back to mod_fastcgi, which then forwards it to the client. This architecture allows web servers like Apache to handle a higher volume of requests with greater efficiency. Configuration typically involves specifying which URLs should be handled by FastCGI and the connection details for the FastCGI application processes, which can be local or remote. It provides a robust and performant alternative to traditional CGI for serving dynamic content.