No. Web servers and hosting are not the same thing, although they can easily be confused, so don't get distracted.
One of the main differences is that a web server has more technical resources, more tools to do other things and functions; while a hosting is a simple storage space that is located within a server.
In other words, hosting is one of the tools of web servers.
Read more: Guide to web traffic: what phone data it is, how to measure it and attraction strategies
How does a web server work?
Web servers , essential for accessing data on any Internet page, are responsible for several steps that, for a user browsing the Internet, mean a simple click, but in reality consist of much more complex processes than that.
Let's look at a quick example:
The Internet user types a web address into Chrome or any other browser. This is sending a request to the web server .
The web server searches for the requested information, either on the physical server itself, the so-called hardware, or on a hosting service.
The requested information and files are sent by the web server to the user, who receives them and perceives them as part of the content of the page he wants to access, now in a single assembled presentation.
Image showing a web server.
How many types of web servers are there?
According to statistics from W3tech.com , the most used web servers right now are: Ngynx, Apache and CloudFlare, but those are not the only options, there are also:
Apache HTTP
Nginx
LiteSpeed
Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)
Sun Java System Web Server
CloudFlare
Let's look at each one in detail.
1. Apache HTTP
Without a doubt the most widely used web server in the world. It is the king, the reference in the world of the internet. Its wide popularity is due to the fact that it is free, open source and multiplatform, which means that it works for any computer.
One disadvantage of this web server is that it often presents problems when thousands of requests arrive at the same time.
2. Nginx
It is a high-performance web server , so it has better management of high traffic, a very helpful feature for e-commerce sites that have a high sales volume and many visitors at the same time, for example.
It is open source and another of its most valued features is that it consumes little memory for users.
3. LiteSpeed
LiteSpeed is a paid web host that offers its customers several different packages for their projects.
It is designed for high traffic sites, so its performance is on par with this type of requirement. It is compatible with several applications and files that use Apache.
4. Microsoft ISS
It was originally developed for Windows NT, a version from the 90s. One of its most notable features is that it has a very simple structure to edit and is intuitive for users because it is modular.
This type of web server also allows remote management, which could facilitate processes.
5. Sun Java System Web Services
This web server is not cross-platform, but can run on Linux, Unix and Windows systems.
Recommended for managing medium-sized websites and specialized for programmers working with Python, Java or Ruby.
6. CloudFlare
This service offers website protection and acceleration. It has both a free and paid version, as well as multiple enhanced security features, which guarantee a better experience for your website users.
Tip: If you are interested in creating some kind of website, I recommend this article where we talk about website creation.