Server

A computer that performs work for another computer (often called the client). The server may provide information to the client's web browser (making the server a web server). Or it may send or receive e-mail on behalf of the client's e-mail program (making the server an e-mail server). Other types of servers store and retrieve data (database servers), Domain Name servers (DNS servers) and File Transfer Protocol Servers (FTP servers).

A particular computer may perform more than one server function. It may also be a client, depending on other servers to perform work on its behalf.

Often, the Internet may form the connection between the two computers. But local area networks can connect servers to clients too.