Configuring custom Apache Handlers

This article describes how to use cPanel to configure custom Apache handlers for your web site. Apache handlers are used to specify how certain file types are processed by the server.

About Apache handlers

Apache is an open-source web server that is used to serve your web site's content. Apache handlers specify how certain types of files are processed by the web server. For example, by default Apache is configured to process files that have.pl extensions as Perl files. If you also wanted to process files that have.script extensions as Perl files, you could set up a custom Apache handler for your site.

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Note

People are sometimes confused about the difference between MIME types and Apache handlers. MIME types instruct the browser how to process files, whereas Apache handlers instruct the server how to process files.

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Warning

Adding custom Apache handlers can easily alter how your web site functions and cause unintended effects. If you need further assistance, please open a support ticket at https://my.hosting.com.

Adding a custom Apache handler

To add a custom Apache handler, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.

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   Note

   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

2. Open the Apache Handlers tool:

• If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Advanced section, click Apache Handlers:
  

• If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the ADVANCED section of the cPanel home page, click Apache Handlers:
  

3. Under Create an Apache Handler, in the Handler text box, type the name of the handler.

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Tip

To see a list of handlers available, you can view the System Apache Handlers at the bottom of the page.

4. In the Extension(s) text box, type the file extension or extensions that you want the handler to process.

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Note

You must add a period ('.') before the extension name.

5. Click Add. cPanel adds the custom handler.

Deleting a custom Apache handler

You can delete custom Apache handlers at any time. However, you cannot delete system-wide Apache handlers.

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Note

Please contact our Support team at https://my.hosting.com if you are experiencing issues with a system-wide Apache handler.

To delete a custom Apache handler, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.

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   Note

   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

2. Open the Apache Handlers tool:

• If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Advanced section, click Apache Handlers:
  

• If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the ADVANCED section of the cPanel home page, click Apache Handlers:
  

3. Under User Defined Apache Handlers, in the Actions column, click Delete for the custom handler that you want to delete.

4. Click Delete Handler. cPanel deletes the custom handler.

Related Articles

• MIME types

• Configuring directory indexes

• Error pages