I hear the word server in all sorts of contexts whenever computers are involved. What is a server and how does it relate to a PC?
In: Technology
A server is just a computer that other computers talk to for stuff. “Stuff” in this case can quite literally be anything. Take for example, Reddit (note that this is purely for illustration purposes. I do not know how Reddit is actually laid out).
You (the “Client”) want to access Reddit. When you type in “Reddit.com” in your browser, you will see the web page displayed by Reddit’s “Web Server”. While lurking and just passively looking at discussions can be fun, you eventually want to have active participation, so you create an account and log in. Your credentials will be handled by Reddit’s “Authentication Server” to validate if you supplied the correct credentials and thus granted the rights to browse and comment and the like.
Another example: Gaming. On your end is the game installed on your computer or mobile (the game “Client”). You wanna play let’s say WoW. You log in (which repeats the steps described previously). This time however, your Game Client is responsible for delivering information to your screen and processing what you see. All the while communicating with the Game Server. The Game Server handles all Game Logic, which tracks the damage you take and deal, on which targets, and any other game-related functions such as inventories and the like, and stores those pieces of information within the server. This is why you can play your account on any computer the game is installed in as long as you know your credentials, and you cannot simply go back to a back up save like in a normal, single player game.
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