Web Server
Overview
A web server is a computer system that processes requests via HTTP, the basic network protocol used to distribute information on the World Wide Web. The term can refer to the entire system, or specifically to the software that accepts and supervises the HTTP requests.
Functionality
The primary function of a web server is to store, process and deliver web pages to clients. The communication between client and server takes place using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Pages delivered are most frequently HTML documents, which may include images, style sheets and scripts in addition to the text content.
Components
A web server consists of several parts that control how users access hosted files. At a minimum, this is an HTTP server. An HTTP server is software that understands URLs (web addresses) and HTTP. It can be accessed through the domain names (like www.example.com) of websites it stores, and delivers their content to the end-user's device.
Hardware
At the hardware level, a web server is typically a computer that stores the server's software and the website's component files (e.g. HTML documents, images, CSS stylesheets, and JavaScript files). It is connected to the Internet and supports physical data interchange with other devices connected to the web.
Software
On the software side, a web server includes several parts that control how users access hosted files, e.g. an HTTP server. An HTTP server is software that understands URLs (web addresses) and HTTP. Each HTTP server can have several domains like www.example.com and www.example.net.
Types of Web Servers
There are mainly four types of web servers: Apache, IIS, nginx and LiteSpeed. These servers serve different purposes and have different advantages, depending on the nature of the hosted website.
Web Server Processes
When a user requests a web page from a particular website, the web browser retrieves the necessary content from a web server and then displays the page on the user's device.
Security
Web servers are often the most targeted and attacked hosts on organizations' networks. As a result, it is essential to secure servers and the network infrastructure that supports them.