We explain what a web server is and what its characteristics are. Also, what it is for and the most used web servers.
What is a web server?
In computing, a web server or HTTP Server is a piece of communications software that intermediate between the server on which the requested data is hosted and the client's computer allowing bidirectional or unidirectional, synchronous or asynchronous connections, with any client application, even with browsers that translate translatable (renderable) code to a given web page. In other words, these are programs that mediate between the Internet user and the server where the information they request is located.
Web servers are programs in everyday use on the Internet, which use various data protocols to communicate the most common and somewhat standard being HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). However, it is also possible to use the term to refer to the computer on which the files that make up a website are stored, along with the software necessary to comply with the web data connection.
See also: Computer protocol
Features of a web server
a web server operates on a computer awaiting requests from the web browser from a client, providing the data requested to compose a web page or, failing that, an error message. Web servers can be of two kinds: static and dynamic.
- Static servers They consist of a computer where the information is stored and an HTTP server that responds to the order protocols. Its name comes from the fact that files are sent as they are stored.
- The dynamic servers Instead, they are static servers that contain additional software (usually applications and databases) that allow them to update the requested information before sending it to the client.
What is a web server for?
As has been said, the function of web servers is to mediate between user requests and files that contain the requested information, on the computer on which they are stored. Therefore, one is needed to publish a website, and also to have access to the data that makes up any web page. This process occurs as follows:
- The user enters a web address (URL) into their browser and it sends a request to the web server.
- The web server (software) searches for the relevant files either on the server (hardware) itself or on a hosting service where they are always available and online.
- The files are then processed as requested and sent according to the transfer protocol, that is, according to a set of rules that regulate communication between computers.
- The browser receives the files and assembles the content of the web page displayed to the user.
Most used web servers
Some of the most used web servers are the following:
- Nginx (2004) A web server and Proxy developed by the company of the same name.
- Apache (1995) It is an open source HTTP web server, which is used for Unix, Windows and Macintosh computers, developed and maintained by a community of users that make up the Apache Software Foundation.
- Internet Information Services or IIS (1993) Web server and set of services designed for Microsoft Windows that was originally included in its NT version.
- Cherokee (2001) It is a multiplatform web server written in C language, available under the GNU General Public License, free software.
- Tomcat (1999) An Apache distribution also known as Jakarta Tomcat, operates on the principle of servlets (Java).
References
- “Web server” in Wikipedia.
- “What are web servers and why are they necessary?” in Duplika.
- “The four types of servers most used to host web pages” in Internet School.
- “Types of web servers” in Infranetworking.
- “What is a web server?” on MDN web docs.
- “Web server” in Technopedia.
