A Web server is strictly speaking a server service (software), which makes information available about hypertext transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP URLs serve for simply addressing of the information. The designation hypertext transfer Protocol Daemon (httpd) became rather rare in the meantime. In the broader sense the term Web server - as with server - is used also for the host (then Web host called), on which the server service is operated.

Function

A user makes a demand, e.g. by clicking a on the left of in its Browser (Client). The Browser leads a HTTP Request to in the left addressed Web server. The Web server returns the delivery the addressed side with MIME type. The Browser indicates the transferred data according to their MIME type. Standard haven for Web servers haven 80 for HTTP and haven is the 443 for HTTPS (by SSL coded HTTP connection).

In the typical surrounding field of a Website a Web server returns the delivery predominantly static data such as HTML sides, Stylesheets or pictures and diagrams (JPG, GIF, png). Beside static data dynamic become increasing, i.e. with the call produced data, delivered. This is done via the use of Skripten (PHP, JSP, ASP), server containers (Servlets, ASP.NET) and Web services (SOAP, XML-RPC). Among other things interactive prompting is made possible by the use of dynamic sides. Examples of dynamic sides are forums, data base interfaces or search machines.

On the Web server all inquiries in a log file are usually logged, from which by means of log file analysis statistics over numbers of visitors and/or number of accesses per side can be generated. Since HTTP is connection and conditionless minutes, a clear allocation of a requirement to a user is not possible. The indication of Visits, hit, user is only reduced meaningful therefore. Inserted pro XY servers, which appear opposite the Web server as Client, make this allocation more difficult additionally. In order more exact data to received, are used Cookies and dynamic sides (s.o.).

Web server software

1989 suggested Tim Berners Lee to its employer CERN (European nuclear research activity laboratory) a project, which was based on the principle hypertext and which world-wide exchange as well as the actualization of information between scientists should simplify. It carried out this project, and developed beside the first Www Browser WorldWideWeb also the first Web server under NEXT step (the equipment, on which the server software ran, is today in the exhibition "“Microcosm"” of the CERN visitor center to visit).

The two today with distance most meaning Web server are Apache HTTP server and Microsoft Internet information services (short: IIS). On the freely accessible web page http://netcraft.com one can inquire, a certain Domain uses which Web server. In the following important Web servers are listed:

• Apache HTTP server (Apache software Foundation; free software)
• Internet information services (Microsoft)
• Jakarta Tomcat (Apache software Foundation; free software)
• MyServer (MyServer Project; free software)
• AOL server (America Online; free software)
• Cherokee Web server (GNU_General_Public_License)
• Tux
• iPlanet
• Goron (formerly Leviathan)
• Zope
• Roxen Web server
• thttpd
• Boa Web server (GNU_General_Public_License)
• lighttpd (BSD license)
• Jigsaw
• WN server
• Netscape Enterprise server
• Sun Java system web server
• Caudium
• Httpd for Emacs
• Elserv for Emacs
• Key focus - key-field web server

See also:

• Comparison of Web servers in the English Wikipedia

See also

• Server
• Virtual server
• Dedicated server
• World Wide Web
• Cgi
• Servlet

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Articles in category "Web server"

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