To understand how a server works, it helps to understand what it is, since the name itself can refer to any number of devices and applications. A server can be a computer or a software application, depending on how it'll be used. The difference is that a computer will typically be used to coordinate the activities of a network of computers, whereas a software application manages user access to certain areas of a system's network.

Servers are designed to carry out a number of different tasks, some of which include file management, printer assignments, email storage and delivery and fax assignments. Integral to the server purpose is the client-server relationship between computers within a network. Within this setup, the computer responsible for coordinating network activities is the server, while the client computers would make up its network.

Network Servers

Network servers can be set up to handle a number of different processing functions, some of which include FTP requests and web requests, as well as email and proxy requests. Because of the additional work tasks carried out by network servers, these computers have to have more processing, storage and memory capacity than their client counterparts. Networks are usually found within business settings where file, print and email sharing are central to workplace flow.

A network server coordinates processing tasks by sharing its own resources or running applications for its client users. The convenience in using a network means one computer can arrange to have 20 other computers share one printer, as opposed to all 20 computers having a printer each. The type of operating system needed to run a network will depend on what function the computer will serve.

Web Servers

Being able to pull up a website is made possible by software applications known as web servers. These applications convert online data into readable words and viewable images on the screen. Web hosting is another type of online server that works something like a network, except the client users are individual websites rather than computer terminals. Hosting sites typically rent out space to web users and assign specific web addresses for each space.

Yet another type of web server exists as an Internet service provider, such as the service that provides your Internet access. These types send and retrieve web pages on your behalf using Internet protocols and HTML mark-up language. There are a number of web servers online, all of which cooperate with each other in order to get online users from one place to another.