Web Server
Definition
A web server is a computer program or a physical computer that stores website files and delivers web content to users' browsers upon request.
A web server functions by listening for incoming requests from web browsers, typically using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or its secure version (HTTPS). When a user types a website address or clicks a link, their browser sends a request to the web server associated with that address. The server then retrieves the requested resources, such as HTML documents, CSS stylesheets, JavaScript files, images, or videos, from its storage.
After locating the necessary files, the web server sends them back to the user's browser over the internet. The browser then interprets these files and renders them as a visible webpage. This process is fundamental to how websites are accessed and displayed online. For instance, when a user navigates to a news site, the web server hosting that site processes the request and sends the page's content back to the user's browser. Web servers are a critical component of internet infrastructure, primarily used in the context of the World Wide Web and website hosting services.