Running head: WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)

 Student Name: Ebrima F.L. Manneh

 Student ID: ST 10174696

 Course Name/Code: IT-301

 Assignement Questions:
Question 2a 2b &2c

Overview of Some Useful Architectures of Web System Technology; Nginx Webserver and
Common Programming Language Used for Web Development.

Ebrima F.L. Manneh

IOU

ABSTRACT
This document provides a comprehensive overview of essential web development concepts
and technologies. It covers the architecture of the Nginx web server, detailing its components
and how it manages web traffic efficiently. The use of the HTML ‘<iframe>’ tag is explained
with an example, followed by a brief guide on how to declare arrays in PHP. The differences
between GET and POST methods are outlined, highlighting their respective use cases. The
document also defines XML, describing its features and advantages. Additionally, it explains
several fundamental HTML tags and their attributes, which are crucial for web development.

Keywords: Nginx, HTML, XML, PHP, and Web development.

WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)
INTRODUCTION
In today's web development landscape, understanding the tools and technologies used to
build and maintain web applications is crucial. This note will explore the architecture of the
Nginx web server, the use of the HTML iframe tag, and provide a brief example of array
declaration in PHP. Additionally, we will differentiate between GET and POST methods,
explain what XML is along with its features, and delve into the details of some essential
HTML tags.

2a.

I. Nginx Web Server:

Nginx is a high-performance web server known for its speed, efficiency, and scalability.
Nginx is a robust and high-efficiency web server software, also well-suited for servers with
limited resources (Putro & Supono, 2022). Nginx is an open-source web server and reverses
proxy known for its efficiency in managing high traffic volumes, handling concurrent
connections, performing load balancing, and delivering content (tnmkpj52rr, 2023). Its
architecture is event-driven and asynchronous, making it suitable for handling a large number
of concurrent connections with low resource consumption. Nginx is widely favoured because
it is open-source and offers an attractive blend of high performance and low resource usage
(Kunda, 2017). Here's a brief overview of its architecture:

1. Master Process:

Nginx operates using a master-worker architecture. In Nginx, the master process is a critical
component responsible for the overall management and operation of the web server. It
operates with a master process that oversees the management of worker processes and
handles control signals (Natnat, 2024). The master process manages worker processes and
coordinates their activities.

2. Worker Processes:

Worker processes handle incoming connections and requests. These processes are designed to
be lightweight and can efficiently handle multiple requests simultaneously. A worker process
refers to the number of workers that a master will oversee. Specifically, it is a process that
runs on a single thread (Tewatia, 2021).
WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)

3. Event-Driven Model:

Nginx uses an event-driven model where each worker process can handle multiple
connections concurrently using asynchronous I/O operations. This approach maximizes
resource utilization and improves performance.

4. Configuration:

Nginx configuration is typically stored in plain text files. It uses a hierarchical structure,
allowing for flexible and granular control over server settings, virtual hosts, and request
handling. A configuration file is typically a text file that an administrator modifies and a
program reads and interprets (Fjordvald & Nedelcu, 2018).

5. Modules:

Nginx's functionality can be extended using modules. Modules can be compiled statically
into Nginx or loaded dynamically at runtime, enabling features such as caching, SSL/TLS
termination, load balancing, and more.

II. The Use of iframe tag:

The ‘<iframe>’ tag in HTML is used to embed another HTML document within the current
HTML document. It creates a nested browsing context, allowing you to display content from
another source on your webpage. Here's an example:

<iframe src="https://www.example.com" width="600" height="400" title="Example

Website"></iframe>

III. Declaring an Array in PHP:

In PHP, arrays can be declared using square brackets or the ‘array()’ function. Here's a
simple example:

// Using array() function

$fruits = array("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry");

// Using short array syntax

$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"];

WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)

2b.

GET vs. POST Methods

GET Method: POST Method:

1. Data is sent appended to the URL. 1. Data is sent in the request body.
2. A limited amount of data can be 2. Large amounts of data can be sent.
sent (URL length limit). 3. More secure as data is not exposed
3. Not secure as data is exposed in the in the URL.
URL. 4. Suitable for submitting data, such
4. Suitable for retrieving data. as form submissions.

i. Difference between GET and POST methods:

 GET and POST are HTTP methods used to send data from the client to the
server.
 GET method appends data to the URL, visible to the user and limited by URL
length restrictions, typically used for retrieving data.
 The POST method sends data in the request body, not visible to the user,
suitable for sensitive or large amounts of data.

ii. What is XML:

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language that defines rules for
encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.
XML was initially created as a simplified version of SGML (Shklar & Rich, 2008).
However, its straightforwardness allowed it to evolve significantly beyond the scope
of SGML.
iii. Features of XML:
1. Extensibility: XML allows users to define their tags and structures, making it
adaptable to various applications and data types.
2. Hierarchy: XML documents have a hierarchical structure, organized into
elements, attributes, and text.
3. Platform Independence: XML is platform-independent and can be parsed
and processed by different programming languages and systems.
WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)

2c.
i. ‘<a> tag’:
The ‘<a>’ tag in HTML is used to create hyperlinks. It is an inline element and can
contain attributes such as ‘href’, ‘target’, ‘title’, etc.

ii. ‘<body>’ tag:

The ‘<body>’ tag defines the body of an HTML document. It contains all the content
that is visible to the user, such as text, images, links, etc.

iii. ‘<img>’ tag:

The ‘<img>’ tag is used to embed images in an HTML document. It is a self-closing
tag and requires attributes such as ‘src’, ‘alt’, ‘width’, ‘height’, etc.

iv. ‘<table>’ tag:

The ‘<table>’ tag is used to create tables in HTML. It contains rows (‘<tr>’) which
in turn contain data cells (‘<td>’) or header cells (‘<th>’).

v. ‘<p>’ tag:
The ‘<p>’ tag is used to define paragraphs in HTML. It represents a block of text with
optional styling and formatting.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the components and functions of web development technologies such as the
Nginx web server, HTML tags, and PHP arrays is essential for creating and managing web
applications. The differentiation between GET and POST methods, as well as the features of
XML, further enriches the foundational knowledge required for web development. The
differentiation between GET and POST methods, as well as the features of XML, further
enriches the foundational knowledge required for web development. Through this
comprehensive overview, we gain a clearer insight into the mechanics behind building robust
and efficient web applications. Through this comprehensive overview, we gain a clearer
insight into the mechanics behind building robust and efficient web applications.
WEB SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT (SPRING 2024)

Bibliography

Fjordvald, M., & Nedelcu, C. (2018). Nginx HTTP Server (4th ed.). Birmingham, Mumbai, India:
Packt Publishing. Retrieved May 25, 2018, from https://www.packtpub.com/

Kunda, D. (2017). Web Server Performance of Apache and Nginx: A Systematic Literature Review.
In D. Kunda, S. Chihana, & M. Sinyinda. Computer Engineering and Intelligent Systems.
Retrieved May 25, 2024, from
https://www.academia.edu/82447766/Web_Server_Performance_of_Apache_and_Nginx_A_
Systematic_Literature_Review

Natnat. (2024, January 28). Nginx architecture. Retrieved from Medium:

https://natnat1.medium.com/nginx-architecture-c9c93058e8a0

Putro, Z. P., & Supono, R. A. (2022). Comparison Analysis of Apache and Nginx Webserver Load
Balancing on Proxmox VE in Supporting Server Performance. International Research
Journal of Advanced Engineering and Science, 7(3), 144-151. Retrieved May 25, 2024, from
https://irjaes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IRJAES-V7N3P161Y22.pdf

Shklar, L., & Rich, R. (2008). Web Application Architecture (2nd ed.). London, England: John Wiley
& Sons Ltd. Retrieved May 25, 2024

Tewatia. (2021, September 9). What is Nginx (Web Server) and how to install it. Retrieved from
Geeks for geeks: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-nginx-web-server-and-how-to-
install-it/

tnmkpj52rr. (2023, November 17). Nginx Servers. Retrieved May 24, 2024, from SCRIBD:
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/687566753/Nginx-Servers