A web stack, also known as a web application stack or tech stack, is a collection of software and technologies used together to develop and run websites or web applications. The term "stack" is used because the technologies are layered, with each component built upon and working in tandem with the others.
Key components of a web stack typically include:
Operating System (OS): The foundation that manages the server hardware and provides an environment for the other software components to run. Common OS examples include Linux, Windows, Unix, and MacOS.
Web Server: Software that handles incoming HTTP requests from client browsers and serves web documents and information. Examples include Apache, Microsoft IIS, and Nginx.
Database: Software for storing and managing data related to the web project, making it available to the web server when needed. Popular databases include MySQL, Oracle, and MongoDB.
Programming Language: Used to write the application's logic, process dynamic content, and interact with the database. Examples include PHP, Java, Ruby, Python, and JavaScript.
Popular examples of web stacks include:
LAMP Stack: Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (or sometimes Perl/Python).
MEAN Stack: MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js.
MERN Stack: MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js.
WISA Stack: Windows Server, IIS, SQL Server, and ASP.NET.
The choice of web stack depends on various factors such as project requirements, developer expertise, and scalability needs.