A web server is a computer software and underlying hardware that accepts requests via HTTP or its secure variant HTTPS. It is responsible for storing and delivering the content of a website, such as text, images, video, and application data, to clients that request it. The main components of a web server include software and hardware, each playing a distinct role in processing files.
On the hardware side, a web server is a computer that stores web server software and a websites component files, such as HTML documents, images, CSS stylesheets, and JavaScript files. It connects to the internet and supports physical data interchange with other devices connected to the web.
On the software side, a web server includes several parts that control how web users access hosted files. At a minimum, this is an HTTP server, which is software that understands URLs (web addresses) and HTTP (the protocol your browser uses to view webpages) . The HTTP server can be accessed through the domain names of the websites it stores, and it delivers the content of these hosted websites to the end-users.
Web servers can handle multiple tasks, such as sending and receiving emails, storing web applications, and processing FTP requests. However, the primary use of a web server is to host websites, making them functional and interactive for users worldwide. To create and publish a website, one needs access to a web server. The easiest way to accomplish this is by purchasing web hosting and a domain name from a hosting provider.
