Server

A server is software or a computer that provides data or services to other systems called clients.

Format
Hosting & Servers
Updated
Updated
Glossary Hosting & Servers
Server Aliases: web server, host machine.

Definition

A server is software or a computer that provides data or services to other systems called clients.

How it works

The word does double duty: it is the program answering requests — a web server, a mail server — and the physical or virtual machine those programs run on. One machine can run many server processes, and one busy service can span hundreds of machines. Either way, if it answers requests from clients, it is serving.

Example: A web server receives HTTP requests and returns website content or application responses.

Often confused: A server is the thing doing the work; web hosting is the service that provides and operates one for your site.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-07-19.