A server is a computer running software that allows it to control the sharing of resources between many computers.

Servers are often dedicated to one task depending on what type of server software they are running, below is a summation of a few common server applications:

HTTP Server - An HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server (web server) is typically connected to the internet with a high speed connection and will respond to requests from computers running client software (like a browser) requiring specific data (commonly a web page). This type of server is common to the internet.

FTP Server - An FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server is used to transfer files over a network (WAN, LAN or the internet) using the FTP protocol.

Mail Server - A mail server stores and transfers (e)mail over a network (WAN, LAN or the internet).

Chat Server - A chat server allows its users to transfer real time text between two or more computers, for more on chat click here.

Database Server - A database server allows its users to access its database via a network (WAN, LAN or the internet) and depending on permissions, read, delete or alter the contents of its database. This type of server is common place in an office enviroment.

Proxy Server - A proxy server (as the name suggests) typically sits between the client and the main server, it is used to filter data and enable connections to be shared. For example if you are in the UK and you connect to a website that is hosted in the US then the data you send/receive will pass through one or more proxy servers.

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