What is Localhost?

Localhost is the default hostname that points to your own computer. When you enter http://localhost in your web browser, you're not connecting to the internet — you're connecting to a server running right on your machine. The IP address for localhost is 127.0.0.1, called the loopback address.

Access your local server: http://localhost

Or try: 127.0.0.1 | localhost:8080 | localhost:3000

How localhost works - browser connects to local server via 127.0.0.1

How to Access Localhost

Before you can access localhost, you need a web server running on your computer. Here's how to get started:

Install a local server — Download XAMPP (Windows/Mac/Linux), WAMP (Windows), or MAMP (Mac)
Start the server — Open the control panel and click "Start" next to Apache
Open your browser — Type http://localhost in the address bar
View your site — You should see the server's welcome page or your website files

If you're using Node.js, React, or other JavaScript frameworks, your development server typically starts on port 3000 — so you'd access it at http://localhost:3000 instead.

Common Localhost URLs

Different tools and frameworks use different ports. Here are the most common localhost addresses you'll encounter:

URL	What It's Used For
http://localhost	Default web server (Apache, Nginx) on port 80
localhost/phpmyadmin	phpMyAdmin — manage MySQL databases
localhost:3000	React, Next.js, Express, Node.js apps
localhost:5173	Vite — Vue, Svelte, modern React
localhost:4200	Angular development server
localhost:8080	Tomcat, Jenkins, or when port 80 is busy
localhost:8000	Django, Python HTTP server

Localhost Not Working? Here's How to Fix It

If localhost won't load in your browser, don't worry — it's usually an easy fix. Here are the most common problems and solutions:

1. Web server isn't running

This is the #1 reason localhost doesn't work. Open your XAMPP or WAMP control panel and make sure Apache (or your preferred server) shows "Running" status. Click "Start" if it's stopped.

2. Wrong port number

If localhost doesn't work, your server might be running on a different port. Try localhost:8080 or check your server configuration for the correct port.

3. Another program is using port 80

Skype, IIS, or other software might be blocking port 80. You can either close that program or configure Apache to use port 8080 instead.

4. Firewall blocking connections

Your firewall might be blocking local connections. Temporarily disable it to test, or add an exception for your web server.

5. Try the IP address instead

If "localhost" doesn't resolve, try http://127.0.0.1 directly. This bypasses DNS resolution and connects straight to the loopback address.

Quick Tip: You can check if any server is running on a port by opening Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and typing: netstat -an | grep LISTEN

Why Developers Use Localhost

Localhost is essential for web development because it lets you test websites safely without affecting your live site, work offline without internet, debug faster with instant page reloads, use databases locally with MySQL or PostgreSQL, and test server-side code with PHP, Python, or Node.js.

Localhost vs 127.0.0.1 — What's the Difference?

Both localhost and 127.0.0.1 point to your computer, but they work slightly differently. Localhost is a hostname that gets resolved through your hosts file, while 127.0.0.1 is the actual IP address with no DNS lookup needed. Some programs like MySQL treat them differently for authentication. If one doesn't work, try the other. Learn more about the 127.0.0.1 loopback address.