A server is a computer program or device that provides a service to another computer program and its user, also known as the client. In computing, a server is a piece of computer hardware or software that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called "clients". The term server can refer to a physical machine, a virtual machine, or to software that is performing server services. A server can accept and respond to requests made over a network. Some examples of servers include:
- Web server: a computer program that serves requested HTML pages or files. In this case, a web browser acts as the client.
- Application server: a program in a computer in a distributed network that provides the business logic for an application program.
- Database server: a computer program that provides database services to other computer programs or computers.
- File server: a computer program that manages access to a centralized disk storage.
- Mail server: a computer program that manages the storage and transfer of electronic mail messages between computers or within a computer.
- Print server: a computer program that manages one or more printers, and a network server is a computer that manages network traffic.
Any computer, even a home desktop or laptop computer, can act as a server with the right software. However, it is important to keep in mind that a server is a powerful machine designed to compute, store, and manage data, devices, and systems over a network.
