Understanding how a website functions is essential for the company’s upcoming e-commerce
launch. One of the first distinctions to clarify is the difference between client-side and server-
side scripting. Client-side scripting runs in the user’s browser and is responsible for interface
behaviors such as form validation, animations, and updating page content without reloading the
page (MDN Web Docs, 2024a). Server-side scripting, by contrast, runs on the web server and
handles tasks such as processing user input, accessing databases, and generating dynamic content
(McGrath, 2021). Using a shopping cart as an example, client-side scripting might update the
cart quantity instantly when a user clicks “Add to Cart,” providing a smooth experience.
However, server-side scripting is needed to securely store the cart in the database, calculate
totals, and ensure that the correct items are associated with the correct user. This makes server-
side scripting crucial for handling sensitive data such as user accounts, payment information, and
order details because the processing takes place in a controlled server environment rather than
the user’s device (MDN Web Docs, 2024b).
A web server such as Apache or NGINX plays a central role in delivering both static and
dynamic content. First, it handles incoming HTTP requests from users, determines which
resource is being requested, and forwards the request to the appropriate file or backend
application (MDN Web Docs, 2024c). Second, web servers help serve dynamic content by
collaborating with server-side languages like PHP. When a user loads a personalized page, such
as their shopping cart or profile, Apache or NGINX passes the request to the server-side script,
receives the generated HTML, and returns it to the browser. Finally, web servers support
scalability, which is especially important for an e-commerce site. NGINX, for example, can
efficiently manage thousands of concurrent connections and can be configured to distribute
traffic across multiple servers to handle growth or peak shopping periods (Keen, 2023).
The HTTP request response cycle explains how the website communicates with users. A
request begins when a user clicks a link or enters a URL. The browser sends an HTTP request
containing the method (e.g., GET or POST), headers, cookies, and where applicable form data
(MDN Web Docs, 2024a). The server then processes the request by checking server
configuration, running the appropriate server-side script, and retrieving any required information
from the database. Finally, the server sends an HTTP response back to the browser. The response
includes a status code, headers, and a message body such as an HTML page or JSON data. The
browser interprets this response and displays the updated content to the user.
Understanding these concepts helps the leadership team see how their website will securely
process user data, deliver personalized shopping experiences, and scale as their business grows.
References
Keen, M. (2023, March 6). Apache vs NGINX [Video]. YouTube.
McGrath, M. (2021). PHP in easy steps (4th ed.). In Easy Steps Limited.
MDN Web Docs. (2024a, December 19). Client-server overview.
[Link]
First_steps/Client-Server_overview
MDN Web Docs. (2024b, December 19). Introduction to the server side.
[Link]
First_steps/Introduction
MDN Web Docs. (2024c, December 23). What is a web server? [Link]
US/docs/Learn_web_development/Howto/Web_mechanics/What_is_a_web_server