Skip to main content

What is a Web Server?

A web server is a system (both hardware and software) that delivers web content to users over the internet or intranet, using protocols like HTTP and HTTPS.

When a user enters a URL in a browser, the browser sends a request to the server. The web server processes the request and sends back a response, typically a web page or other resource.

How Does a Web Server Work?​

  1. A browser or client sends an HTTP/HTTPS request to the server.
  2. The web server receives and interprets the request.
  3. It processes the request, either by:
    • Serving a static file (like an HTML or image),
    • Or forwarding the request to an application backend (like a PHP, Python, or Node.js app).
  4. It sends the appropriate response back to the client.

Use Cases of Web Servers​

  • Hosting websites and blogs
  • Serving APIs (RESTful and GraphQL)
  • Reverse proxy and load balancing
  • Hosting web apps (e.g., React, Angular, Vue)
  • Distributing files or documentation
  • Internal company portals or dashboards

Types of Web Servers​

1. Apache HTTP Server​

  • One of the oldest and most widely used open-source web servers.
  • Modular and highly configurable using .htaccess files.
  • Can serve both static and dynamic content.

Best for: General-purpose websites and shared hosting environments.

2. Nginx​

  • Lightweight, high-performance server known for its event-driven, asynchronous architecture.
  • Excellent for use as a reverse proxy, load balancer, or static file server.
  • Consumes fewer resources than Apache under high load.

Best for: High-traffic sites and API gateways.

3. Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services)​

  • A proprietary web server developed by Microsoft for use with Windows Server.
  • Integrates well with ASP.NET applications.
  • GUI-based configuration and built-in Windows authentication.

Best for: Enterprise applications on the Windows stack.

4. LiteSpeed Web Server​

  • A commercial, high-performance web server with an open-source edition.
  • Compatible with Apache configurations (including .htaccess).
  • Built-in caching features make it ideal for CMS platforms like WordPress.

Best for: High-performance CMS hosting.

5. Caddy Server​

  • A modern web server written in Go.
  • Automatic HTTPS with built-in TLS.
  • Minimal configuration with simple defaults.

Best for: Developers seeking simplicity and security out of the box.

Key Features of Web Servers​

  • Support for HTTP/HTTPS protocols
  • Virtual Hosting – serve multiple websites on one server
  • Load Balancing – distribute traffic across multiple backends
  • Access and error logging
  • Compression support – Gzip or Brotli for performance
  • SSL/TLS certificates – enable secure connections
  • Security modules – like ModSecurity or rate-limiting

Commonly Used Ports​

  • HTTP – Port 80
  • HTTPS – Port 443
  • Some development environments may use:
    • 3000, 8000, or 8080

Summary​

Web servers are essential for hosting and delivering web content. Whether you're working with static sites, complex web apps, or microservices APIs, choosing the right web server (and configuring it properly) can drastically improve performance, security, and scalability.

Understanding how each type of server works — from Apache to Nginx to IIS — helps you make better infrastructure decisions in DevOps and cloud environments.