Glossary

server/webserver

Server is a physical computer or system. They are usually found in clusters in what are called server farms or data centers/clusters but you can also make your home PC a server if you want. Webserver is a virtual “application” that handles requests and responses and delivers web content to clients. Webserver cannot exist without a server(physical computer).

In reality, server is used to describe both but in majority of cases it is referring to a webserver.

frontend/backend

Frontend (or client-side) refers to the part of a web application that users interact with directly. This means that everything you see in your web browser is frontend in a sense. Backend (or server-side) is the part of a web application that users don’t see. It manages the behind-the-scenes functionality and data processing.

api

API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. It defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information. APIs are used to enable the integration of different systems, making it easier for developers to leverage functionalities from one application in another. API and backend are often used interchangeably when talking about them.

database

Database refers to any system that is used for storing data.

request/response

Request is when a client asks server some information or asks it to perform some specific action. The client can is usually frontend but can also be other backend systems or mobile applications and so on. Put simply, anything that comes TO the server is considered a request.
Response is when a server sends back an information to the client after processing a request.