Web server operation

The following diagram shows the basic flow of an HTTP session between a web user and a web server.

USER NETWORK SERVER

Request a file from web document (*.html, *.gif, etc.) --> Find existing thread/process corresponding to the user's connection, or start new one.

Parse HTTP request, extracting file name and path of requested file.
Find and retrieve requested file, or return error message.

Parse response and display in web browser. <-- Add HTTP header and send response to user.

Repeat until all files in web document have been retrieved.

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USER	NETWORK	SERVER
Request a file from web document (.html, .gif, etc.)	-->	Find existing thread/process corresponding to the user's connection, or start new one.
		Parse HTTP request, extracting file name and path of requested file. Find and retrieve requested file, or return error message.
Parse response and display in web browser.	<--	Add HTTP header and send response to user.
Repeat until all files in web document have been retrieved.