What is Server?

A server is a computer equipped with specific programs that provides data or functionality for other machines or programs. We call the other devices or programs ‘clients.’ Most commonly, the term refers to a computer that provides data to other computers. The data may be served to systems through wide area network (WAN) over the Internet. Alternatively, serves the data to LAN (Local area neteork) systems.

Server’s useful for shared resources that the network users need, such as e-mail, Web services, databases, file storage, etc.

In Simple “A server is a type of computer that manages network resources. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks. On multiprocessing operating systems, however, a single computer can execute several programs at once.”

What is Server and client?

Clients

Clients are computers or software that access a service which is provided by servers, Clients access servers through networks.

Servers

Servers are computers or programs that run services to serve the needs of other computers. There are, for example, home media servers, web servers, and print servers. There are also file servers and database servers.

Types of Servers

1.File Server

A file server is a server that contains files which are made accessible to other clients on the network. A file server has responsibility for storing and managing a set of files, which are made accessible to other computers. These files are shared among clients in the network by allowing access without having to physically transfer the accessed files to their local systems.

2.Print Server

A print server has a dedicated printer connected to it which is accessible by other clients through it on the same network. Other clients on the network can print to this printer through this print server.

3.Web Server

A web server is a server equipped with HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) that serves web pages in response to requests submitted by clients.

4.Application Server

An application server stores and manages all applications and its databases . If you’ve visited a bank to withdraw money, then you’ve accessed the bank’s application server through the services of the attending teller. The teller’s machine through the banking application accesses the bank’s application server to retrieve your bank account details and facilitate your transaction.