Web Server and NGINX
What Is a Web Server?
In simple terms, a web server is a computer that stores, processes, and delivers website files to web browsers.
Web servers consist of hardware and software that use Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to respond to web users’ requests made via the World Wide Web.
Through this process, web servers load and deliver the requested page to the user’s browser – Google Chrome, for example.
Web servers also use Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to process files for email or storage.
So, what is a web server made of? On the hardware side, a web server connects to the internet, which enables it to exchange data or files between other devices that are likewise connected. This data can come in different forms, such as HTML files, images, JavaScript files, or Css stylesheets. Web server hardware also stores web server software.
Web server software controls how web users access hosted files. It consists of several components, housing at least an HTTP server. An HTTP server is software that can understand HTTP requests and URLs.
Keep reading as this article will explain how a web server works, why we need them, and list some popular examples.
How Does a Web Server Work?
Web servers follow a client-server model. In this structure, one program, also known as the client, requests a resource or service from another program, the server.
To process web clients’ requests, web servers follow a few steps:
[if !supportLists]1. [endif]When a web user wants to load a website’s content, their web browser requests access through the internet. This is called an HTTP request.
The web browser looks for the requested website’s IP address by translating the URL of the web pages via the Domain Name System (DNS) or by searching through its cache. This process locates the web server where the site’s files are hosted.
[if !supportLists]2. [endif]The web server receives the HTTP request and processes it through its HTTP server.
Once its HTTP server accepts the request, it will search through server files to obtain the relevant data.
[if !supportLists]3. [endif]After that, the web server returns the site files to the web browser that sent the request. Then, the web user sees the website content.
However, if the HTTP server fails to find or process the requested files, it responds to the web browser with an error message. One of the most common is a 404 error, but a 403 error may also appear if there are permission issues.
On the other hand, if a web server fails to receive a timely response from another server acting as a proxy or gateway, a 504 error occurs.
Static vs Dynamic Web Server
Web servers can serve static or dynamic content. A static web server consists of a computer and HTTP software. Static web servers send a website’s files back to a web browser without any changes.
A dynamic web server consists of a static web server plus extra software. This additional software most commonly consists of an application server and databases.
Dynamic web servers essentially update hosted files before delivering them via an HTTP server. This enables it to generate and send dynamic content to a web browser.
Web Server Features
Aside from supporting HTTP protocols to process incoming requests and responses, most web servers offer the following standard features:
File logging. Log files document any events or activities web servers perform, such as requests, security, and error logs. Each time a web server receives a new request, a line of text is added to the log.
Authentication. Many servers offer this feature before permitting partial or complete access to a website’s resources. Authentication features often involve authorization requests – when a username and password are required.
Bandwidth limiting. A web server’s bandwidth is the amount of data it can transfer or process at any given time. Bandwidth limiting controls the speed of responses to ensure that a network is not oversaturated and can deliver files smoothly.
Storage space. It refers to the amount of disk space available to store files, which determines whether a web server can host a website.
A web server includes other essential elements, such as:
Programming language. A web server’s programming language is the type of code used to develop programs executed by a server. Also known as server-side scripting languages, examples of popular programming languages include PHP and Python.
Uptime. Server uptime tracks the amount of time a web server is functional and can process requests or deliver files. A server’s uptime also affects when a hosted website is operational, known as website uptime. The industry standard is a 99.9% guarantee.
Why Do We Use a Web Server?
Web servers have three primary uses:
Host multiple websites or web applications.
Process File Transfer Protocol (FTP) requests.
Send and receive emails.
Web servers host websites so that they are accessible on the internet. This is why a web server’s features and functions focus on creating and maintaining a hosting environment.
If you want to create and publish a website, you’ll need access to a web server. The most convenient way to do this is through website hosts.
Web hosting is a service that provides your website with server space to store its files, assets, and databases.
Not only that, but a web hosting provider’s role is also to ensure servers run seamlessly. It involves performing backups, caching, security monitoring, and general maintenance. By the way, that’s why it is crucial to choose a reliable host.
Some of the main benefits of having a web host monitor and maintain the web server where your website is hosted include:
Optimal uptime and performance. A web host takes care of hardware maintenance and software updates, which helps improve website performance and uptime .
Secure servers. Web hosts implement effective security protocols to reduce vulnerabilities and protect hosted websites against malware or cyber attacks.
Various hosting plan options. Site owners can choose a web hosting plan with different features and functions depending on their needs.
Cost-effective. Site owners don’t have to maintain a dedicated server and can instead choose a hosting plan that provides the necessary amount of server resources.
Flexibility. Web hosts offer scalable plans, so website owners can obtain additional hosting resources like storage or bandwidth as needed.
Web Servers in the Market
Some of the most popular examples of web servers include:
Apache HTTP Server. A free and open-source web server used for many operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Apache is the oldest web server software and one of the go-to’s for website owners, developers, and hosting providers, with a market share of over 31%.
NGINX. A famous open source web server software that initially only functioned for HTTP web serving. It is now also used as a reverse proxy, HTTP load balancer, and email proxy. NGINX is known for its speed and ability to handle multiple connections, which is why many high-traffic websites use its services.
Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS). IIS is a closed web server software developed by Microsoft widely used in Windows operating systems.
Lighttpd. A free and open-source web server software that’s known for its speed while requiring less CPU power. Lighttpd is also popular for having a small memory footprint.
In web hosting, different web hosts support different types of servers. For example, Hostinger supports both Apache and NGINX, the two leading web servers in the market.
Nginx
Introduction:
NGINX -pronounced as Engine X- is a powerful web server that is widely used by many large-scale websites, content providers, and cloud service providers. It is a lightweight, open-source software which is used for more purposes than traditional web servers, including acting as a reverse proxy, load balancer, security layer, and HTTP cache. NGINX is also easy to configure, making it an attractive option for those looking to optimize their web performance.
What is NGINX?
NGINX is a web server and a reverse proxy that serves as a intermediary between the client and the server, receiving and processing client requests before forwarding them to the server. This unique architecture positions nginx as an ideal solution for a range of web hosting needs, including caching, and security.
But what exactly is a reverse proxy?
A Proxy server is an intermediary server positioned between the client and the server. There are two types of web proxies: forward proxies and reverse proxies, each of which serves a specific purpose.
Forward vs Reverse Proxy
The direction of communication flow distinguishes a forward proxy from a reverse proxy. On the client side, a forward proxy lies in between the client and the destination web server, acting as an intermediary. Before reaching the destination server, a client's request for information from the web first passes via the forward proxy. On the other hand, a reverse proxy is situated on the server side, and both requests and answers made to the server transit via the reverse proxy before being sent directly to the server.
Proxies offer a layer of abstraction that can be leveraged for various purposes, such as security and caching. Forward proxies are frequently utilized for anonymity and filtering content. Reverse proxies, on the other hand, can be utilized for load balancing and other applications.
Acting as a reverse proxy offers numerous benefits for Nginx, including enhanced performance, increased security, better scalability, and simplified maintenance, which will be explored in detail in the following section.
Benefits of using nginx
In the following section, we will explore the benefits of using Nginx, which include enhanced performance, efficient load balancing, better security, caching for faster content delivery, HTTP/2 support, and ease of configuration.
Enhanced Performance
Nginx is known for its high performance and scalability. It can handle a large number of concurrent connections and requests with minimal resource usage, making it a popular choice for high traffic websites and applications.
Load balancing
Load balancing is a technique used to distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers to optimize resource utilization, maximize throughput, minimize response time, and prevent overload on any one server. Load balancing is especially important for high-traffic websites, where multiple servers are needed to handle the volume of requests.
Nginx acts as a powerful load balancer, enabling it to distribute traffic across multiple servers based on a variety of criteria, such as round-robin, IP hash, or least connections. By intelligently distributing traffic across multiple servers, Nginx can effectively manage network congestion, optimize resource utilization, and ensure high availability for users.
Caching
Nginx provides powerful caching capabilities that can significantly improve website performance and user experience. Nginx can store cached content in memory, on disk, or in both locations simultaneously, depending on the server configuration. By caching frequently requested content, Nginx can reduce the response time for subsequent requests and minimize the load on the backend servers.
Nginx can cache both static and dynamic content, including HTML pages, images, videos, and API responses. Nginx can also cache content based on specific request headers or cookies, providing a high degree of flexibility for developers.
Security features
Acting as a reverse proxy, Nginx provides several security benefits that make it a popular choice for hosting high-traffic websites and applications. Nginx can terminate SSL/TLS connections, decrypt and inspect incoming traffic, and forward it to the backend servers. This enables Nginx to implement various security measures, such as rate limiting, access control, and content filtering, to prevent malicious traffic and protect against common web-based attacks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. Additionally, Nginx can be configured to prevent Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks by rate-limiting or blocking incoming traffic based on specific criteria, such as source IP address or request headers.
HTTP/2 support
Nginx has built-in support for HTTP/2, the latest version of the HTTP protocol that is designed to improve website performance and efficiency. HTTP/2 introduces several new features, including server push, request multiplexing, and header compression, that can significantly reduce page load times and improve the overall user experience.
Nginx's support for HTTP/2 means that websites hosted on Nginx servers can take advantage of these new features without the need for additional configuration or third-party plugins. Nginx can automatically negotiate HTTP/2 connections with compatible web browsers and servers, and deliver content using the new protocol.
Ease of configuration
The configuration syntax is straightforward and well-documented, and the server can be easily configured using plain text files. Additionally, Nginx has a modular architecture, allowing administrators to add or remove functionality as needed, without having to rebuild the entire server.
Large-scale companies using nginx examples
Many well-known companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox, Netflix, and Pinterest are among the users of Nginx. These companies leverage Nginx's performance, scalability, and flexibility to handle millions of requests per day, improve the reliability and availability of their services, and streamline their infrastructure management.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NGINX is a highly efficient and versatile web server used by many large-scale websites, content providers, and cloud service providers. It is a lightweight, open-source software that acts as a reverse proxy, load balancer, security layer, and HTTP cache. NGINX provides many benefits including enhanced performance, efficient load balancing, better security, caching for faster content delivery, HTTP/2 support, and ease of configuration. With its powerful features and ease of use, it is no wonder why many large-scale companies such as Airbnb, Netflix, and Dropbox rely on NGINX to provide their web services.