Data on the Internet is usually stored on specialized computers known as what?

Data on the Internet is typically stored on specialized computers called servers. Servers are powerful machines designed to provide resources, data, or services to other computers, known as clients, over a network. They handle requests from clients, process that data, and send responses back. This architecture forms the basis of client-server models that facilitate the sharing of information across the Internet.

Routers are devices that direct data traffic between networks, ensuring that data packets reach their intended destinations efficiently. Clients refer to end-user devices like personal computers and smartphones that access the server's resources. Switches operate at the network level to connect devices within the same local area network (LAN), directing traffic within that closed environment rather than storing or serving data. Understanding these roles emphasizes why servers are central to data storage and access on the Internet.