Pages with tag Servers

What is the difference between a web server, an application server, and a database server?

A "server" computer is one that's probably running continuously, and exists primarily to handle requests from client software. Client software makes a request of a server, waits for the response, then does something useful with that response. The phrase "client/server" describes this paradigm.

There are lots of kinds of server software - each serving its own purpose. The word "server" implies that the server software is in service to client software.

What's the difference?