A web server is a computer system that stores, processes, and delivers web pages to users over the internet. When you type a website address into your browser, it sends a request to the web server hosting that site. The server then retrieves the requested page and sends it back to your browser, allowing you to view the content. Web servers use a special software called HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to communicate with browsers. Popular web server software includes Apache and Nginx. These servers can also handle other tasks, such as managing databases and running applications, making them essential for modern websites.