Server (Computing)

computers · networks · internet · technology

What servers do. Servers are computers that work like super helpful librarians. They sit on networks and give data, files, and services to other computers (called clients) whenever those computers ask for them. A single server can help thousands of clients at the same time.

Client and server. This setup is called the client-server model. Your computer or phone is the client that asks for things, while the server is the computer somewhere else that answers those requests and sends back what you need, like a webpage or an email.

Different types. There are many kinds of servers doing different jobs. Web servers send you webpages, mail servers deliver your emails, game servers let people play together online, and file servers store documents that many people need to share.

Same or different places. A client and server can be on the same computer, or they can be far apart and connected through the internet. You might use several different servers in one day without even realizing it, like when you watch a video or send a message.

Built to handle lots. Servers are special computers designed to work hard and stay on almost all the time. They're built stronger than regular computers so they can handle thousands of requests every second without getting tired or breaking down.