Web servers (also known as HTTP servers) are those that make web hosting possible, that is, the possibility of renting a space on a server to store the files on our site.
The main function is to store the files of a site and broadcast them over the Internet in order to be visited by users.
Basically, it is a computer that saves and transmits data through the network system called the Internet. When a user enters an Internet page, his browser communicates with the server sending and receiving data that determines what he sees on the screen.
In general, a web server can refer to two things: the server software (that is, to the program itself) and the computer on which the web server software is running.
When it comes to the latter, it talks about the host (a host can host multiple software solutions for web servers).
Some open source web servers:
- Apache HTTP Server à Apache powers 52% of all websites globally, and is by far the most popular web server.
- NGINX à Is running just over 30% of all websites.
- Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) à IIS is one of the most popular web server on the web.
- Apache Tomcat.
- Node.js