What Web Servers Do
-
Return files located by Universal Resource Locators (URL's) using the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP).
- These files documents are usually formatted using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
-
Decide who can have files and who cannot (security).
- Also in the topic of security is a draft specification for secure HTTP, and information from NCSA on using encryption in the HTTP protocol.
-
Use the MIME standard for file types to determine how to transfer files. Here is the MIME specification.
-
Execute programs and scripts using the CGI protocol.
- CGI is generally accessed through forms, which
can be used for email or gateways such as with WAIS, for example.
-
Provide support for image mapping.
Here is an imagemap tutorial from Caltech, and another
- imagemap tutorial from NCSA.
-
Act as a proxy for clients
behind a firewall. Here's another firewall FAQ.
-
The CERN server is capable is of caching when used as a proxy.
Back to Server Daemon Home Page