subject: Why We Depend On Web Servers [print this page] Why We Depend On Web Servers Why We Depend On Web Servers
When referring to a web server, one can actually determine it to be the software assisting with internet content delivery, or the hardware of a computer system. Web servers can also be a host system for websites, although they are most well known for their software/application angle. This includes the content delivery for the internet, but also enterprise applications, and the 'running' therein.
When a web server is used for content delivery, an enormous but immediate process takes place. Content including photographs, videos, HTML and JavaScripts are delivered to the user via the web server.
So, when we flip through web pages each and every day, we are relying on these web servers to make our browsing capabilities efficient and fast. We depend on web servers each and every day whether we know it or not. They assist us with personal computer use, business internet usage and much, much more.
How does this process take place? In a nutshell, the web browser initiates basic communication, and the web server responds. When the communication lines do not line up, we as the user, receive an error message.
When the connection does line up, the user is directed to the site in which the web server has just hunted for and connected to. Web servers are also the determiners of how a web page will be read and shown to the user. A web server handles an enormous amount of responsibility, and can produce results between one and one hundred seconds.
The web server was initially proposed by a Mr. Tim Berners-Lee. From this very idea stemmed two additional ideas by Berners-Lee. These included the WorldWideWeb browser as well as the CERN httpd; which was the first web server.
Seeing the future of the WorldWideWeb, Berners-Lee then created the very first standardization process for updates and creations within this browser. This was known as the WorldWideWeb Consortium, or W3C. Technologies such as HTML and HTTP passed through this process, as well as many other successors. Organization including that of colleges, universities, manufacturing plants and resource centers quickly started using the new system, we take for granted today.
Web servers do have load limits. This is simply a number of user connections that can be made at one time. This number can range anywhere from five to over seventy-thousand connections. A common connection load limit is one thousand.
So the next time you turn on your computer, and start to search the web for websites of your choice, you can have a better understanding of what is actually happening within the connection process. And when you receive those pesky error messages, you can also have a greater respect for all that is having to be processed, not only for you, but for others around the world. Web servers earn their keep, keeping us in the know and on track with our internet usage and much more.