Web Server

Overview

The term web server has two connotations. The term can describe the hardware that is used as a server or refer to the software that facilitates hardware functionality. When we refer to the web server as hardware, we are talking about the machine or the computer that is used as a server. A server that is used to store websites is known as a web server. It is not always necessary to buy server hardware since an ordinary computer can also be used as a web server.

Web servers are designed to send information quickly and to handle high traffic. You can configure your own server to host your website, or you can hire a service provider who gives you the necessary hardware and software to host your website.

Benefits

First and foremost, it is important to know that without a web server you will not be able to maintain a website online. It is important, especially for businesses, to have a reliable web server. Web server providers will host and maintain your website. With shared hosting services, your website shares server space with other websites. Shared web hosting services tend to be inexpensive. Dedicated hosting services allow you to reserve an entire server for your website. The hosting provider maintains the website while providing options for functionality and security.

How It Works

When you type a website name or URL into the search tab, the browser converts the name into an Internet Protocol (IP) address. This is done by the browser with the help of the Domain Name System (DNS). The browser then follows the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to send a request to the web server. The request is then processed by the server and the right webpage is retrieved. This information is sent in the form of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) to the browser, which reads the HTML tags and displays the right page on your system.

A web server is used for data transfer and for other functions like uploading files and submitting web forms. Devices like printers and routers may sometimes have web servers to facilitate web page administration.