We explain what a web server is and what its characteristics are. In addition, what it is for and the most used web servers.
What is a web server?
In computing, a web server or Server HTTP it's a piece of software of communications that mediates between the server in which the requested data and the client's computer are housed, allowing bidirectional or unidirectional, synchronous or asynchronous connections, with any application of the client, even with browsers that translate a translatable (renderable) code to a specific web page. In other words, these are programs that mediate between the Username Internet and the server where the information you request is located.
The web servers are programs everyday use in Internet, which use various data protocols to communicate, the most common and somehow standard being HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). However, it is also possible to use the term to refer to the computer in which the files that make up a website, together with the software necessary to comply with the connection of data Web.
Characteristics of a web server
A web server operates on a computer waiting for requests from a client's web browser, providing the requested data to compose a Web page or, failing that, an error message. Web servers can be of two classes: static and dynamic.
- Static servers. They consist of a computer where the information is stored and an HTTP server that responds to the protocols from order. Its name comes from the fact that the 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 customer.
What is a web server for?
As has been said, the function of web servers is to mediate between user requests and the files that contain the requested information, on the computer where they are stored. Therefore, you need one 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) in your browser and it sends a request to the web server.
- The web server (software) searches for the relevant files either on the server itself (hardware) or in 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 the communication between computers.
- The browser receives the files and assembles the content of the web page that is displayed to the user.
Most used web servers
Some of the most used web servers are the following:
- Nginx. A web server and proxy developed by the business homonymous.
- Apache. It is an open source HTTP web server, which is used for Unix computers, Windows and Macintosh, developed and maintained by a community of users that make up the Apache Software Foundation.
- Internet Information Services or IIS. Web server and set of services designed for Microsoft Windows which was originally included in its NT version.
- Cherokee. It is a multiplatform web server written in C language, available under the GNU General Public License, from free software.
- Tomcat. An Apache distribution also known as Jakarta Tomcat, operates under the principle of servlets (Java).