Webzstore
Have you ever clicked on a link or typed a website address and wondered how the internet brings you exactly what you requested? That's where web servers come into play, acting as the internet's librarians, ready to fetch whatever information you need. But what really is a web server, and how does it work? Let's break it down into simpler terms and explore the various types of web servers and their specific uses.
How Does a Web Server Work?
Think of a web server as a restaurant server. You, the diner, ask for a specific dish (or, in internet terms, a webpage) by clicking a link or typing a URL. The waiter (webserver) then rushes to the kitchen (the server's storage) to grab your order (the webpage) and serve it to you (your browser) hot and fresh. In technical terms, a web server is software (running on a computer) that accepts incoming requests over HTTP or HTTPS, the protocols browsers use to fetch web pages, and sends back responses such as HTML pages, images or data. The word "server" can also mean the machine itself, which is one reason the term causes confusion.
1. You Request: You type a website address into your browser.
2. Server Processes: The web server receives this request and decides what to do with it.
3. Delivery: The server retrieves the requested webpage and sends it back to your browser.
4. You See the Page: Your browser displays the webpage, usually within a second or two, depending on the connection, the server and the page.
Types of Web Servers and Related Server Types
Not everything people call a "server" is a web server. It helps to keep four groups apart:
- HTTP server software answers browser requests directly. Examples below: Apache HTTP Server, nginx, LiteSpeed, OpenLiteSpeed, Oracle iPlanet Web Server and Jigsaw.
- Application runtimes and backends run the code behind a site, often behind or alongside an HTTP server. Examples: Node.js and backend servers.
- Servers for other protocols do different jobs. Examples: FTP, mail, DNS, proxy and database servers.
- Hosting and operating-system choices describe where the software runs. Examples: cloud servers and Windows Server.
Product details change, so check each vendor's current documentation before choosing software for a new site.
Apache HTTP Server and nginx
What They Are: Two widely used open-source HTTP servers. Apache HTTP Server is configured with files such as httpd.conf and per-directory settings; nginx is an event-driven server that is also commonly used as a reverse proxy in front of other servers.
Best For: General-purpose hosting of static files and PHP or other applications, on your own server or through a hosting provider.
Oracle iPlanet Web Server
What It Is: A commercial HTTP server from Oracle (the former Sun and iPlanet web server line), designed for medium to large businesses. Its last release notes that we found (version 7.0.27) are dated October 2017, so confirm Oracle's current support status before choosing it for a new project.
Best For: Companies that need a reliable platform for web applications, especially those requiring Java EE technology support.
Why It Stands Out: It was built for scalable, Java-based enterprise deployments; its age means it is mostly relevant to existing installations today.
Jigsaw Server
What It Is: A Java web server and HTTP reference implementation from the W3C. The newest release listed on the W3C's Jigsaw page is from April 2007, so treat it as a historical reference rather than a production choice.
Best For: Educational purposes, research, and development, especially in web standards and protocols.
Why It Stands Out: It is useful for studying how an HTTP server is put together.
LiteSpeed Web Server
What It Is: A commercial, event-driven web server that is compatible with Apache configuration such as rewrite rules.
Best For: Sites, especially WordPress sites on hosts that offer it, that want server-level caching and Apache compatibility.
Why It Stands Out: Its built-in caching and event-driven design are aimed at efficient use of hardware. Actual results depend on your site, so test rather than assume a gain.
Node.js
What It Is: An application runtime, not ready-made web server software. It lets you write your own HTTP server and networking tools in JavaScript (for example with its built-in http module). Many sites place it behind a general-purpose web server or reverse proxy.
Best For: Building fast, scalable network applications, particularly real-time applications like chat apps or live updates in web applications.
Why It Stands Out: Node.js describes itself as an asynchronous, event-driven JavaScript runtime designed to build scalable network applications.
Backend Servers
What They Are: Not a single product, but the application and data layer that runs a web application's server-side logic and talks to databases. They usually sit behind an HTTP server and do not serve browser requests on their own.
Best For: Applications requiring complex operations like data processing, storing user data, or authentication.
Why They Stand Out: They're the powerhouse behind web applications, handling everything users don't see but rely entirely on.
FTP Server
What It Is: A server for a different protocol: it transfers files using the File Transfer Protocol, not HTTP. It is not a web server, although hosting accounts often include it for uploading site files. Plain FTP does not encrypt logins, so providers commonly offer SFTP or FTPS instead.
Best For: Sharing large or many files over the internet, especially in a work or collaboration setting.
Why It Stands Out: It gives a standardised way to upload, download and manage files on a remote system.
Mail Servers
What They Are: Servers for email protocols (such as SMTP, IMAP and POP3), not HTTP. They are separate from the web server even when both run on the same hosting account.
Best For: Organizations needing to manage their email systems efficiently and securely.
Why They Stand Out: They ensure the smooth operation of email communication, providing services like sending, receiving, storing, and forwarding emails.
OpenLiteSpeed
What It Is: The open-source edition of LiteSpeed's web server. It supports Apache rewrite rules and has a built-in web admin interface.
Best For: Individual developers or small businesses looking for a high-performance and scalable web server without the cost.
Why It Stands Out: It brings an event-driven design and Apache rewrite compatibility to an open-source package. The commercial edition has additional features, so compare the editions before deciding.
Proxy Server
What It Is: A server that acts as an intermediary for requests. A forward proxy sits in front of users; a reverse proxy sits in front of web servers. It is a role, and some web servers (such as nginx) can also perform it.
Best For: Enhancing security, privacy, and controlling internet usage within an organization.
Why It Stands Out: It can filter requests, hide the origin server from clients and cache content to speed up common requests.
Cloud Server
What It Is: A hosting choice rather than software: virtual servers running in a cloud computing environment. You still install and configure a web server such as Apache or nginx on them unless the provider manages that for you.
Best For: Businesses looking for scalability, flexibility, and reliability without the high physical hardware costs.
Why It Stands Out: They offer on-demand resources that can scale up or down as needed, making them highly adaptable to business needs.
DNS Server
What It Is: A server for the Domain Name System, not HTTP. It translates human-friendly domain names (like www.webzstore.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.
Best For: Every site needs DNS to be reachable by name, but a DNS server does not serve web pages itself.
Why It Stands Out: They act as the internet's phonebook, ensuring you reach the correct website every time you enter a URL.
Oracle (Database Server)
What It Is: Oracle Database is a database server, not a web server. A web application queries it, usually through application code, rather than browsers connecting to it directly.
Best For: Large enterprises requiring robust, scalable, and secure database management systems.
Why It Stands Out: It is aimed at large, demanding data workloads. Most small sites use a different database, such as MySQL or MariaDB.
Windows Server
What It Is: Microsoft's server operating system. It is an operating system, not a web server itself; it can run web server software such as Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS), and also other servers.
Best For: Businesses deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, requiring seamless compatibility with various Microsoft applications.
Why It Stands Out: It integrates with other Microsoft tools, which matters for sites built on technologies such as ASP.NET.
Conclusion
Web servers deliver pages and files to browsers over HTTP or HTTPS. Around them sit runtimes, database servers, DNS, mail and hosting choices that do different jobs, and it is worth knowing which is which when you compare hosting options. Whether running a large enterprise, managing high-traffic websites, or starting with your personal project, understanding the different web servers and their capabilities can help you make informed decisions in your digital journey.
