A web server is software (running on a physical or virtual machine) that receives requests from browsers and sends back the requested webpages, images, or other files. Apache and Nginx are the two most widely used web server programs, and both are commonly used to run WordPress.
What a Web Server Actually Does
- Listens continuously for incoming requests from visitors' browsers
- Locates the specific requested file or content
- Processes any necessary dynamic content, often via PHP
- Sends the finished response back to the visitor's browser
Apache vs. Nginx
- Apache — highly flexible through .htaccess configuration, and traditionally the most common WordPress hosting choice
- Nginx — generally more efficient under heavy, high-traffic loads, increasingly used by premium managed hosts
Where Web Server Choice Matters
Most WordPress site owners never need to choose or configure their own web server directly — that decision is made by the hosting provider. It becomes genuinely relevant mainly when self-managing a VPS, where a site owner might choose to configure Nginx specifically for its performance benefits under high traffic.
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