What Are Servers and Their Types and Uses?

Servers are the silent engines driving our digital lives. They're indispensable in our modern world, from storing data and running applications to facilitating communication and sharing resources. Let's explore more about servers and their applications. 

What is a Server?


A server is a specialized computer or software system to supply resources, data, or services via a network to other computers, also called clients. These services include email and web page delivery, file management and storage, and application execution. These devices function according to a client-server architecture, in which clients request particular resources or services, and the server complies.


What Are the Functions of a Server?

The functionality of servers can vary depending on the user's need and type of server. Some common functionality of servers are listed below. 


1. Resource Sharing: Files, printers, and storage devices can be accessed and shared by numerous people thanks to servers.


2. Data Storage: They handle and store data centrally, allowing authorized users or apps to access it.


3. Computation: Servers carry out operations, such as executing apps or handling transactions, on behalf of clients.


4. Communication: By offering messaging, email, and collaboration capabilities, they let clients communicate with one another.


5. Security: To secure sensitive and important information, servers frequently come equipped with security measures like access control and authentication.


6. Application hosting: For efficiency software and applications are hosted on servers instead of individual devices. 


Types of Servers: 


There are different types of servers available each of which is used for different purposes.  Some common servers are: 


  • Web servers: Web servers are used to host web pages. They serve web pages, photos, videos, and other web content in response to HTTP requests from web browsers. Apache, IIS, and Nginx are some examples of common web servers.


  • File servers: The purpose of file servers is to store and distribute files over a network. They facilitate user collaboration and document sharing by offering centralized file storage and access management. Network-attached storage (NAS) devices and the Windows File Server are two examples.


  •  Database server: Database servers oversee databases, guaranteeing efficient querying, security, and data integrity. Applications that depend on organized data storage require them. Some examples are Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. 


  • Application server: They provide software services and applications with the necessary runtime environment. They handle data retrieval and application logic processing. Some examples are Node.js servers,.NET application servers, Java application servers, etc. 


  • Proxy servers: Proxy servers function as a bridge between other servers and clients. They can improve security, load balance, and cache web content, among other things. Reverse proxy servers and content delivery network (CDN) servers are two notable varieties.


  • FTP server: File transfers across a network are made easy by servers that support the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). File uploading and downloading are frequent uses for them. Software for FTP servers includes ProFTPD and FileZilla Server.


As you are aware of servers now, the next step is to learn more about coding and computer network systems. At the 98thPercentile, the leading online learning platform, we provide coding programs with personalized guidance to ace your technical skills. 

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