Embedded HTTP server: Difference between revisions

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{{UnreferencedMore citations needed|date=JuneAugust 20082022}}

[[File:2453 IP video server.jpg|thumb|148x200px|right|Front and back views of a small IP video server (Sensoray 2453S) with audio and composite video inputs served via [[HTTP server]] and other protocols.]]

An '''embedded [[HTTP server]]''' is a component of a software system that implements thean [[HypertextHTTP Transfer Protocol|HTTPserver]] used in an [[Communicationsembedded protocol|protocolsystem]]. Examples of usage within an application might be:

The HTTP server is usually implemented as a [[software component]] of an [[Application software|application]] (embedded) system that controls and/or monitors a machine with mechanical and/or electrical parts.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Edge Computing Using Embedded Webserver with Mobile Device for Diagnosis and Prediction of Metastasis in Histopathological Images |year=2021 |doi=10.1007/s44196-021-00040-x |last1=Johny |first1=Anil |last2=Madhusoodanan |first2=K. N. |journal=International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems |volume=14 |s2cid=244923748 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

* To provide a [[thin client]] interface for a traditional application.

* To provide [[Database index|index]]ing, [[report]]ing, and [[debugging]] tools during the development stage.

* To implement a protocol for the distribution and acquisition of information to be displayed in the regular interface — possibly a [[web service]], and possibly using [[XML]] as the [[Serialization|data format]].

* To develop a [[web application]]

The HTTP server implements the [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|HTTP]] [[Communications protocol|protocol]] in order to allow communications with one or more local or remote [[User (computing)|users]] using a [[Web browser|browser]]. The aim is to let users to interact with information provided by the embedded system ([[Web user interface|user interface]], data monitoring, [[Data logger|data logging]], data configuration, etc.) via [[Computer network|network]], without using traditional peripherals required for local user interfaces ([[Display device|display]], [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]], etc.).<ref>{{cite web |title=Administering Security for Oracle HTTP server |url=https://docs.oracle.com/en/middleware/fusion-middleware/web-tier/12.2.1.4/secure-ohs/administering-security-oracle-http-server.pdf}}</ref>

There are a few advantages to using HTTP to perform the above:

* HTTP is a well studied cross-platform protocol and there are mature implementations freely available.

* HTTP is seldom blocked by [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]]s and [[intranet]] [[Router (computing)|router]]s.

* HTTP clients (e.g. [[web browser]]s) are readily available with all modern computers.

* There is a growing tendency of using embedded HTTP servers in applications that parallels the rising trends of [[Home network|home-networking]] and [[ubiquitous computing]].

In some cases the functionalities provided via HTTP server allow also program-to-program communications, e.g. to retrieve data logged about the monitored machine, etc.

== Typical requirements ==

Natural limitations of the platforms where an embedded HTTP server runs contribute to the list of the non-functional requirements of the embedded, or more precise, embeddable HTTP server. Some of these requirements:

== Usages ==

Examples of usage within an embedded application might be (e.g.):{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

* Toto provide a [[thin client]] interface for a traditional application.;

* Toto provide [[Database index|index]]ing, [[report]]ing, and [[debugging]] tools during the development stage.;

* Toto implement a protocol for the distribution and acquisition of information to be displayed in the regular interface — possibly a [[web service]], and possibly using [[XML]] as the [[Serialization|data format]].;

* Toto develop a [[web application]].

== Advantages ==

There are a few advantages to using HTTP to perform the above:{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

* HTTP is a well studied cross-platform protocol and there are mature implementations freely available.;

* HTTP is seldom blocked by [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]]s and [[intranet]] [[Router (computing)|router]]s.;

* HTTP clients (e.g. [[web browser]]s) are readily available with all modern computers.;

* Therethere is a growing tendency of using embedded HTTP servers in applications that parallels the rising trends of [[Home network|home-networking]] and [[ubiquitous computing]].

== Typical requirements ==

Natural limitations of the platforms where an embedded HTTP server runs contribute to the list of the non-functional requirements of the embedded, or more precise, embeddable HTTP server. Some of these requirements: are the following ones.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

* "Small" [[Random-access memory|RAM]] and [[Read-only memory|ROM]] footprint. The exact size depends on the system, but in many cases anything over several megabytes is not embeddable.

* Minimal [[CPU]] utilization.

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* [[Comparison of web server software]]

* [[Comparison of application servers]]

* [[Server (computing)]]

* [[HTTP server]]

* [[Web server]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://dzone.com/articles/embedded-web-servers-and-application-servers-whats Embedded Web Servers and Application Servers: What's the Difference?]

* [https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/ libmicrohttpd] contains an extensive list of embedded HTTP server libraries towards the bottom of the page

* [https://www.keil.com/pack/doc/mw/Network/html/group__net_h_t_t_p___func.html Example: functionalities of an embedded HTTP server component]

[[Category:Web server software| ]]

[[Category:Embedded systems]]

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