Many software and applications have been added to the web. The platform has become more complicated with internet-related materials beneficial to every part of our lives. These components include web servers, web browsers, and web pages. However, education about the web has not been equally passed down like its growth. Most people don’t have an idea of the difference between these terminologies.These studies are practiced in high schools, elective subjects, or offered by computer science students. This poor education brings misconceptions regarding internet and technology terms.
Tim Barnes Lee popularized these terms, web server and web browser, in 1990. The inventor made it possible for a client to communicate with the information storage center. Tim made the communication line for CERN; thus, the webserver was named CERN HTTP, and WorldWideWeb became the browser operating system. This connection came about the internet we use today. Tim Lee later upgraded the operating system to a World Wide Web Consortium, popularly known as W3C. Tim made the upgrade to legalize and standardize the invention of the internet tools such as web browsers and web servers.
For a client to conduct an international communication, the computer must have a web browser and a web server. A client cannot establish communication without the web browser and servers. The client requests a file in the form of an HTTP processed through the web browser to the server. The server receives the message and finds suitable replies, sent back as pages from the storage. When suitable files are located, the servers send back the message in HTML through transport layer algorithms to the browser through HTTP across the web.
If no relevant pages are found, an error message is sent back to the web browser, such as Error 404 – page not found. The message sent to the browser is called an HTTP response. You can see this is a bit confusing. However, we’ll further discuss the difference between a web browser and a web server.
What’s a Web Browser
A web browser is a software meant to find information on the internet. A client uses the web browser to search for information sent to the servers. This information can be images, files, videos, and other documents. A browser was first created to read-only text pages and could not display pictures. Recent web browsers can display different types of information, including visualization. Information is sent through the web browser in the form of a website or URL to the server then receives responses displayed on the screen.
A data source identifier selects the response, and then plugins are used to display specific types of pages. Web browsers are now available on phones and other mobile devices to display applications, Java scripts, and files with plugins. The web browser is integrated with a Uniform Resource Identifier (URL) to aid the search for an information source. The browser uses the CISCO OSI application model to operate. Presently, there are many browsers in the industry; some default to some devices such as apple devices and safari, windows, and internet explorer. Other downloaded browsers range from Google Chrome to Mozilla Firefox, UC, and Opera.
Browser Architecture
Different commercial companies provide different browse services to clients. The primary function of the browser is to display content. Browsers operate on similar architecture and algorithms. Browsers have three parts with different functions; controller, client program, and interpreters.
The controller is like the keyboard or mouse used to input the browser’s information and access the stored file through the client program. Interpreters are needed to translate the input by the controller to figure out the document to display on the browser. The method used to sort the documents determined the interpreter’s type, like HTML or JAVA. The client program is the protocols such as TELNET, FTP, or HTTP. Grouping on WWW is based on the date the document was stored and classified into static, dynamic, and active.
Definition of Web Server
A web server is a software or computer system that stores information requested by the web browser. The server created the information and made it accessible to the browser. Creating a server is easy; all you need is the required software, a device, and an internet connection. This device will have an IP address with a name and a tab to enter a web address. The browser converts the web address to internet protocol before sending it to the server. The server detects the IP, reads, and interprets to locate related documents, which are sent back to the web browser as web pages. The server creates pages from the stored files then distributes them over the internet. In summary, a website depends on the server to display on the web browser.
Server Architecture
The web server offers web browsers to routers, PCs, webcams, printers, etc., in different dynamic protocols such as PHP, Asp, and JSP. The server is also programmed to gather information used by clients on the web browser. The programming is based on a type of algorithms that get information such as uploads or forms and store them in the server. For instance, your post can be selected and stored on the server for future reference.
Web server software is operated through a remote machine located on the other end of your network or anywhere in the world. The machine can also be your PC at home. The client can be the webserver making the user’s browser the client.
Summary difference between Web Browser and Web Server
– The web server contains information required by the website while the web browser collects and displays the information as web pages.
– The primary function of the web browser is to display information distributed by the server by extensions while the webserver’s primary function is to store information.
– The web server provides the information while the web browser displays the information.
– A web server is installed on different computers or software to function correctly, while the web browser can be installed on a single device.