3.1. Overview#
A web server is a computer system that delivers web pages and other resources to your browser when you request them. Whether you’re checking social media, streaming videos, or shopping online, you’re interacting with a web server through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This foundational technology supports every website on the internet. HTTP servers have transformed commerce and society, affecting how we live, work, and interact with the world. Every time you browse the web, download an app, or use an online service, you’re relying on the same basic HTTP technology that powers the entire internet.
3.1.1. History#
The first web server was created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 at CERN as part of his invention of the World Wide Web. This early server used a basic version of HTTP to deliver simple text documents. Over time, HTTP has evolved to handle more complex tasks, such as delivering multimedia content and securing data. HTTP/1.1, introduced in 1997, brought improvements like persistent connections, which allowed faster browsing. More recently, HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 have further increased efficiency and speed, making modern websites faster and more responsive. Technologies like WebSockets have also extended HTTP, enabling real-time communication for live chat, online gaming, and other interactive applications.
Alongside the evolution of HTTP, server-side scripting emerged in the 1990s, revolutionizing how web servers could deliver dynamic content. Early technologies like CGI (Common Gateway Interface) allowed servers to run scripts and generate web pages on the fly, rather than just serving static files. This led to the development of more advanced scripting languages like PHP, which became one of the most popular tools for building dynamic websites. PHP allowed developers to create web applications that could interact with databases, handle forms, and generate personalized content. Other server-side technologies like ASP.NET (from Microsoft) and Ruby on Rails have also played significant roles in making web applications more powerful and interactive.
3.1.2. Python#
Today, web servers are more versatile than ever, thanks to powerful programming languages like Python and frameworks like Flask. These allow developers to build dynamic websites and web applications that can handle complex tasks, such as processing payments, managing databases, and supporting user authentication. Modern web servers use WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface) to bridge the gap between web applications and server software, making it easier to create and scale interactive web systems. This technology powers the websites and services we rely on daily, from social media and entertainment to education and commerce, playing a central role in the digital world we live in.