Lecture on Browsers and Servers

Overview

• Discussion of the roles and functions of browsers and servers in the internet network.
• Explanation of the processes that occur when a website is requested in a browser.

Browsers

• Purpose: To display websites for users to read and interact with.
• Popular Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera.
• Functionality:
  • Takes a web address and sends a request to a server for website files.
  • Processes responses from servers to display website content.

Servers

• Definition: Specialized computers connected to a network that respond to requests from network devices.
• Functionality:
  • Store and provide resources like website files, data, images, and videos.
  • Do not have monitors or keyboards; focused on data storage and retrieval.
  • Require significant computing power to handle multiple user requests.

Browser-Server Interaction

• Process:
  1. Browser sends a request to the server.
  2. Server processes the request and identifies necessary files.
  3. Server responds with the required files.
• Location: Servers may be far from the user's physical location.

Internet Protocols

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol):
  • Governs the format of data sent over the internet.
  • HTTP vs HTTPS: 'S' indicates secure data transfer.
  • Request Methods:
    • GET Request: Fetches resources.
    • POST Request: Sends data to the server (e.g., form submissions).
  • HTTP Status Codes:
    • Example: 404 error indicates requested content not found.

Key Takeaways

1. Browsers send requests to servers and render website files.
2. Servers store and provide website files to browsers upon request.
3. HTTP provides a standardized protocol for data transfer between browsers and servers.