8080 has no special meaning to browsers; it's simply the convention for “another web server” because it echoes 80 and, on Unix systems, ports above 1023 historically didn't need root. Development tools love it, so when 8080 is already in use on your Mac, it's almost always another project or container you forgot to stop.
Facts
- Port
- 8080
- Protocols
- TCP
- Service
- HTTP alternate
What uses port 8080
Development servers and app servers (Tomcat, Jenkins), HTTP proxies, and admin panels of routers and appliances. Often used when port 80 is taken or needs root.
On a Mac
On a Mac, 8080 is usually your own development server, a Docker container or a local proxy. Find the owner with lsof -nP -iTCP:8080 -sTCP:LISTEN or LightAtom's Ports view.
sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:8080Security
Services on 8080 are often unauthenticated dev tools. Make sure they listen on localhost only, not on all interfaces, unless you mean to share them.
Frequently asked questions
What is port 8080 used for?
An alternative HTTP port, commonly for development servers, proxies, Jenkins, Tomcat and device admin pages.
How do I see what is using port 8080 on a Mac?
Run lsof -nP -iTCP:8080 -sTCP:LISTEN. The PID column shows the process to stop.
Is port 8080 secure?
The port isn't inherently secure or insecure; the service on it is. Many dev tools on 8080 have no authentication, so keep them on localhost.