A web server is a computer program (or a machine running it) that stores website files and sends them to people’s browsers when they ask for them.

How it works

When you type a website address, your browser sends a request to the web server where that site lives. The server looks for the right page, collects the needed files (HTML, images, scripts), and sends them back over the internet. Your browser then shows the site on your screen.

Analogy

Think of a web server like a waiter in a restaurant. You (the browser) ask for a meal (a web page), and the waiter (the server) goes to the kitchen (the site's files), picks up the order, and brings it to your table. The waiter doesn't cook - just delivers what you asked for.