What serves access to a website through either HTTP or HTTPS?

A web server is specifically designed to handle requests for web content via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or its secure version, Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). When a user enters a website's URL in a browser, the web server processes the request and serves the relevant web pages to the user's device.

Web servers are capable of delivering static content, such as HTML pages, images, and stylesheets, as well as dynamic content generated by server-side scripts. The use of HTTPS indicates that the connection between the client and web server is secured through encryption, further enhancing data protection during the transmission.

Other server types, such as database servers, application servers, and file servers, serve different functions. Database servers manage databases and respond to data queries, application servers provide business logic and applications that can be accessed by clients, and file servers are used primarily for storing and managing files for network users. These roles do not involve direct access to web pages over HTTP or HTTPS, thus differentiating them from the specific function of web servers.