What is a Server? (Deepdive)

With this video I explain my ~17y/o self what a "Server" is. We look at server software and servers in datacenters to understand how the word is used.

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to "What is a Server?"
00:47 - Wikipedia Server Definition
01:42 - Game Servers
02:50 - Client and Server Communication
04:30 - Web Servers
05:10 - A Server is just a Program
06:38 - A Server is just a Computer
08:30 - Server Hardware
10:10 - What is Server Software?
11:54 - Servers are Everywhere
14:00 - Related Terms and Thought Experiment
17:04 - Outro

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[AJMansfield]

Another fun example is a linux display server (like X11): it's a program that has a screen it can display things on and a mouse and keyboard it can read from; graphical programs then connect to it as clients via something like dbus to ask for those inputs and tell it what to display.

[MegaManNeo]

Simplifying computer terms in easy explanations is something I am always up for.
It's too easy to confuse people and make them lose interest (probably part of the reason why hubs, MODEMs and WiFi access points are combo devices nowadays).

I'd welcome more videos like this.

[Makbetjuz]

I had quite a big struggle understanding what is a protocol and how are packets built. "Language that computers communicate" did not cut it for me. If you want to make a similar video I would love to watch a deep dive on this topic.

[nieczerwony]

"There is no cloud, there is only someone's else computer ".
I remember back in the day when we were using one PC to be a server.
Today you can do amazing stuff with things like raspberry pi and really understand that server is essentially a computer.

[mipselled]

how'd this get in my recommended? EDIT: I was just surprised an unlisted video got in my recommendation when it had only 2 views. I’m already subscribed and I watch all of LiveOverflow’s videos.

[nickguerra]

Thank You! I have been a programmer for a few years now and these "basic" terms often have so many subtle complexities that videos like this help a lot. Please keep making videos like this!

[jona]

Really enjoyed this kind of video! Please keep up the series. The gradual change from solid basic information to more technical details was really informative!

[ahnospell]

This is a GREAT introduction to how it works, you left quite an awesome bit of 'your own research needed here' but explained amazing for someone coming into the world of IT!

[illusions]

yk what the first part where u say to think of a server like a restaurant waiter actually helped alot

[borazan]

Funny that I literally asked a professor this after class yesterday, his answer was "pretty much everything can be a server". I guess the confusion arises from the fact that it doesn't only refer to specific types of computers/software but to much more. Thank you for the deep dive, really appreciate it :)

[fanden]

This is awesome. I can´t tell you how often I catch myself not being able to truly explain the most simple stuff in IT after using it for +10years.

[yassinsammy]

finally a good explanation about servers, I had that question for a really long time, mostly because of all the ways people explain stuff, everyone explains it differently, and it becomes extremely difficult to understand what is what and which is which.
Thanks for the video, and keep up the good videos they definitely help a lot.

[rikschaaf]

You also used the term service. If you want to tie that into the explanation, I would define it as this:
A *_server_* is a *_program/application_* that *_provides_* a *_service_* by sending a *_response_* to a *_client_* application that sent a *_request_*, so that the client can then *_consume_* this response. What the request and the response contain depend on the service that the server provides.

This application can be called a server, but it is also often called a service.
The hardware can be called a server, but is usually not called a service, except in the context of Infrastructure As A Service (IAAS), where your hardware is managed for you by a 3rd party, e.g. an (other) company (like a mincraft server host) or even a different department within the same company (which makes it possible for a development team to run their program somewhere in the company, without having to manage those computers themselves). Here the service refers to the management and availability of those computers, not necessarily to the computers themselves.
The term service is also used within the code of a program itself. For instance, some piece of code might need access to a database. To do this, it can call a service (another piece of code within the same program) that handles the database access. In this context you might also see the terms *_manager_* or *_repository_*

[WillBosch-Vuononen]

This video is perfect for someone like me: the one who has used computer for more than half of their life but still get confused with all the terms. Thank you so much!

[paulx]

As a long time windows and Linux administrator, I want to tell you that your video is awesome! 👍 Good explanations, even better illustrations and best of all, personally, metaphors.

[Dymond_in_the_ski]

Thank you for this video. I felt how you felt when you were 17 years old. Currently learning configuration management and I was experiencing some sort of mental block then i decided to break down terms. Especially the server / web server that i thought I already know the meaning of.
I truly appreciate this video, your 17 year old self and this lady is happy.

[dudu]

you're really amazing, the video is quality made and the explanations are so understandable.
thank you for helping the world learn and making it so enjoyable at the same time!

[sergiojimenez]

Awesome video! Doing the videos that you wish you had when you were younger makes for a really interesting and usefull format. It is also motivating to see that you once also had essential misconceptions about certain "basic" topics and that there is nothing wrong with that. The worst thing that one can do is to not ask that "silly" question and remain ignorant. Keep it up!

[heyitsalec]

This was an awesome video! Proof that even the more simpler subject areas can be just as enlightening. Thanks for this!

[Shhluger]

I am struggling every day with trying to understand the things related to programming I am giving up easily, such materials bringing back my willingness to try one more time. Thank you for excellent explanation.