What is a server? Beginner’s guide to servers and their functions

Every time you visit a website (like right now), watch a video on YouTube, or enjoy being surrounded by cute square animals when you play Minecraft online, you can thank a server for making it possible. 

Servers work behind the scenes to ensure that websites load, emails are delivered, and online services such as banking and Netflix function as they should. 

In this guide, we’ll look at what a server is and how it works. We’ll also cover different types of servers and their use cases. 

What is a server? 

A server is a powerful computer that is designed to store, manage, and send data to other computers over a network. It acts as a central hub that provides services to users or other computers (also called ‘clients’). 

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re standing in a library. You’re looking for a particular book about British birds. In this scenario, the books on the library’s many shelves are data, and you are the user (or client) who needs the data. The helpful librarian at the counter by the window is the server, who finds the book and hands it to you.  

That, in very simple terms, is how a server works – it stores information and delivers it upon request. Librarians, of course, have many other human qualities that a server cannot boast of. 

Physical server vs. virtual server 

Not all servers are physical machines in a large data centre. Some servers are virtual servers running on a shared physical machine. 

Physical servers: These are standalone machines with dedicated hardware. They’re often used by large companies or data centres. 

Virtual servers: These run on shared hardware using virtualisation technology, making them function as independent servers with dedicated resources. 

A VPS (virtual private server) is a good example of a virtual server that gives the user the same benefits as a physical server, even though it runs on a larger physical machine shared with other users. This is because VPS users are allocated dedicated resources that are not shared with anyone else. 

How does a server work? 

Servers constantly await requests from users. When you type a website’s URL into your browser’s address bar, a request is sent to the server, which processes it and sends the website’s content back to you. 

If, for instance, you want to watch a cat video or a video tutorial from one.com on a streaming platform or in an app, the server finds the video file and ensures it can be played on your computer or mobile phone, regardless of when you visit the platform.

Important components in a server 

Just like a car engine or a smoothie blender, a server needs a range of components to function: 

• Processor (CPU): Acts as the server’s brain, processing all tasks. 
• Memory (RAM): The server’s short-term memory, where data is stored temporarily for quick access. 
• Storage (HDD/SSD): This is where data is stored, like a large archive. 
• Network: Enables the server to communicate with other devices over the internet. 

What is a server used for? 

Servere har utallige anvendelsesområder. De er nødvendige for alt fra drift af Servers have countless uses. They’re necessary for everything from running websites and online shops to hosting online multiplayer games and crucial public services. Here are a few examples: 

• Hosting websites: The content of every single website you visit is stored on a server. 
• Email services: Whatever email service you use, your emails are stored and sent using a server. 
• Online gaming: Multiplayer games run on game servers that connect players and display the game world and characters. 
• Media streaming: Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube use servers to deliver videos to users. 

Every time you message your colleague on Teams, buy new shoes online, or store thousands of pictures of your dog in a cloud, there’s a server working behind the scenes. 

Different types of servers 

There are many types of servers that serve different purposes. Here are some of the most common: 

Web server 

A web server stores and displays websites to visitors. When a user visits a website, it’s a web server that handles the user’s request and sends the necessary files to the browser. 

For example, if you have an online shop, all images, product descriptions, and the payment system are hosted on a web server. If the server is slow or unstable, it might mean that your website’s content doesn’t load or display correctly. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a stable web hosting solution with solid performance when you’re setting up a website or online shop.  

Mail server 

A mail server ensures that emails can be sent, received, and stored. For instance, when you send an email via Gmail, Outlook, or webmail on your own domain, it’s a mail server that processes your request and ensures that the email reaches the correct recipient. 

Game server

A game server hosts multiplayer computer games, allowing several players to play titles like Counter-Strike or Minecraft together in real time. The server keeps track of each player’s location and actions, ensuring a good gaming experience for all participants. 

Virtual private server

A virtual private server (VPS) is part of a physical server that functions in the same way as a standalone physical machine. It provides the user with dedicated resources, even though the physical server is shared with other users. 

If you’re considering starting a larger online project, running multiple websites simultaneously, setting up a Minecraft server, or expecting more traffic to your existing website, a VPS is typically the natural next step because it offers more performance, processing power, and control than shared hosting usually provides. 

Application server 

An application server hosts and runs software on a network. Many companies use these to manage internal tools such as stock control or CRM platforms. Online banks, for instance, use an application server to securely handle transactions. 

Proxy server 

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between users and the internet. They can be used for security measures, privacy protection, or performance optimisation. Some companies use proxy servers to filter web traffic and prevent employees from visiting certain websites from the company network. 

File server

A file server stores and manages files so that users can access documents over a network. This is useful for businesses that need to store many internal documents and allow employees to access them from any computer on the network. 

Printer server

A printer server stores and manages all the tasks sent to the printer. This server makes it possible for many employees in an office to print documents on the same printer, even if their computers aren’t directly connected to the printer.  

As you’ve probably experienced, it doesn’t always work flawlessly, but that’s often down to the printer’s mysterious nature. Servers can do a lot of things, but unfortunately, they can’t remove jammed printer paper. 

One VPS, many server options 

VPS hosting is a flexible hosting solution that can be used to set up several of the server types mentioned above. With a VPS, you get dedicated resources on a powerful physical server. This means you can run your own web servers, mail servers, game servers, file servers, or set up a private cloud. 

At one.com, you can choose between Managed VPS (where one.com takes care of maintenance, backups, and updates) or unmanaged VPS (where you have full control over the server environment). This means you can get started with a VPS, no matter how much or how little technical experience you have. 

Servers pull the strings behind the scenes of the internet 

It’s thanks to servers that the internet works when we need it – which is essentially all the time. They make it possible for us to visit websites, create websites, shop online, join online courses, pay bills, book an appointment at the hairdresser, send emails, and much more. 

If you have a website, sell products online, or run another online business, it’s crucial to choose reliable web hosting with a dependable server, or a strong VPS solution, as it makes a world of difference to your website’s or app’s speed, security, and performance.