An HTTP web server is software that accepts HTTP requests (from web browsers, APIs, devices) and returns responses – be it HTML pages, JSON, or files. Web servers are the critical entry point, managing connections, routing traffic, and serving content, often interfacing with complex application backends.

Common web server types and roles:

• Static web servers: Serve HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other static assets.
• Application servers / reverse proxies: Route requests to backend application processes (e.g., NGINX, Apache).
• Embedded web servers: Lightweight servers embedded in applications for microservices.
• APIs and gateway servers: Handle REST/gRPC requests with authentication, rate limiting, and routing.

HTTP web servers directly impact user experience through latency and throughput, safeguard systems via security features, and underpin the scalability and reliability of all web and API-driven applications. Proper server selection and configuration are critical for scalable, secure, and maintainable web applications.

Strategic advantages of well-chosen web server setups:

• Improved request throughput and reduced latency with efficient software and tuning.
• Security features like TLS termination, access controls, and request validation.
• Scalable architectures using reverse proxies, caching, and load balancing.
• Simplified deployment for containerized and serverless environments.

• Apache.org