Differences between a Web Browser and a Web Server in Singapore

A web browser is an application we often use to navigate the internet to view website pages. The web server is hardware that stores data and provides users access to the information requested using web browsers using HTTP. The web browser is an application program that gives users access to worldwide web content and information through internet services. A hardware known as a web server can offer benefits such as sharing data through web browsers.

A web browser requests information and services and serves as an interface between a user and a server that displays web content, which is the primary distinction between a web browser and a web server. The web server accepts, approves, and responds to a web browser’s request for a web document. When users search for a webpage, the browser picks up this request using a technique known as the Transmission Control Protocol (or TCP). The TCP is a method to send information between users and the server across the internet. It verifies that the message is in the correct order for transmission by breaking information such as texts, images and codes into datagrams and putting them back so that it is being received by another completely intact.

Everything that happens on the internet is done using packets. Data packages contain information such as the address it’s being sent over the network to its destination. A second HTTP protocol (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) assigns the unique address label. The World Wide Web then uses the HTTP protocol for fetching resources and transferring data from one computer to another.

HTTP request refers to the communication between a web browser to access information on a web server. When a web server receives a request, it looks through its cache to retrieve any previously stored data. If the web server can find the page, it uses TCP or another transport layer protocol to split up the HTML it contains, addresses these parcels to the browser via HTTP, and then sends them back across the network.  If the web server cannot locate the requested page, it will split up and send the browser a page with an error message (such as Error 404 – page not found). The HTTP response is the name given to this message that the browser receives from the web server.

Comparison Chart

Definition of Web Browser

A tool to access web services and server-side documents can be considered a web browser. There are many different browsers in use; for instance, Internet Explorer is the default browser for Windows platforms, and Safari is the default browser for Apple devices. Other web browsers include UC, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.

Browser Architecture

The primary function of a web browser is to display web content, and the three main components are a controller, client protocol and interpreters.

• The controller uses client software to access the document after receiving input via a keyboard or mouse.
• The document uses interpreters to display itself on the screen while acquiring the controller.
• The client protocol is the last step and may use techniques such as HTTP, FTP, or TELNET.
• Depending on the type of page, HTML or Java can be used as an interpreter.
• The WWW divides documents into three categories: static, dynamic, and active, based on the moment the content is created.

How does a Web Browser work?

To begin the information-gathering process, the user enters the URL of the selected website into the address bar. The browser is a component of the client-server model that serves as the client. It communicates with the web server via HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol).

Advantages of Web Browser

1. Coders can easily do test programs on the internet.
2. A web browser can be used to store data online.
3. The modern web browser has features that allow downloading of files into folders.
4. Get connected online around the globe using a web browser.

Disadvantages of Web Browser

1. Web browsers can be vulnerable to hackers stealing data.
2. Children can access any content with a web browser, including violent and adult-oriented material.
3. Using a web browser for an extended period might cause harm to the eyes, brain, and ability to focus.

Definition of Web Server

The primary function of a web server, a computer software, is to distribute web pages to offer a location for storing and organising website pages. The web server software’s hardware can be a personal computer at home, a remote system on the other side of the network, or even a device in another country.

Model for Web Server Processing

• There are numerous single-threaded processes on process-based servers.
• One multithreaded process runs on thread-based servers.
• Hybrid servers use multiple multithreaded techniques.

Key Differences

1. Web browsers use protocols to retrieve data made available by Web servers.
2. The web browser sends the HTTP request, receives HTTP requests and produces responses.
3. Process-based, thread-based, and hybrid processing paradigms are available on the web server. A web browser, in contrast, lacks any processing models.

How does a Web Server work?

Web server software ensures that a website’s information is sent to the requesting user via domain names. The hardware stores the web server software, which compromises at least an HTTP server and files such as documents, images and codes.

Benefits of having a Web Server

1. Communication

A web server communicates with the hosting company, and users can obtain the required information.

2. Flexibility

Hosting via a web server offers much greater flexibility than clustered web hosting. The flexibility is increased even further when using a dedicated web hosting server.

3. Download Capabilities

Web servers are recommended for those who own websites with many downloadable links, and a website that uses a web server will face fewer bandwidth issues.

Disadvantages

1. Security

Utilising web servers also raises several security issues. Instead of HTTPS, some web servers support HTTP traffic. Network packet sniffing is a procedure applied to transactions occurring via HTTP.

2. Maintenance

A web server may occasionally experience hardware issues, software issues, updates, or maintenance that results in downtime.

3. Costly

Depending on the infrastructure and compared to electronic web hosting, a web server with monthly chargers is usually more expensive.

Conclusion

The website server and browser are both essential, and they work together hand in hand with users. A web server will store the data, and a web browser must find and display it in a way understandable to users. If you want to build an e-commerce store, find out more in our quick guide on starting an online store on Shopify.