What is the primary function of a web server?

The primary function of a web server is to send and receive requests for web pages. When a user enters a URL in their web browser, a request is sent to the web server hosting that particular website. The server processes this request by locating the requested resources—such as HTML files, images, or scripts—and then sends the appropriate data back to the user's browser. This interaction forms the backbone of web browsing, enabling users to access and view websites effectively.

The effectiveness of a web server can impact the speed at which web pages are loaded and how well web applications are managed, but those aspects are secondary to its core role in handling requests and responses. While optimizing search results is important for search engines, it falls outside the scope of the primary function of a web server, which is focused primarily on serving content and handling user requests.