Can we say node.js is a web server?

Question

I found that I am confusing between web framework and web server.

Apache is a web server.

Tornado is a web server written in Python.

Answer 1

I think the problem is that the terminology of "web server" or "web application server" is dominated by the JEE world, and products, that are not as modularized as today's Javascript world of frameworks, which in turn can be combined more or less freely.

I see no reason why a technology, that can serve complex applications over the web, should not be called a web server, or web application server!

If you combine, let's say Nuxt as a frontend, with Feathers as a backend - you'll have a backend serving a REST API and a server-side rendered UI!

Of course, you could (mis)use that to serve static content - then I'd call it a web server, or you could use it to make and serve a full application - then I'd call it a web application server.

It's the combined features or qualities that sum up to serve a purpose - right? - Features like stability, scalability and such are IMHO something that will be added to those technologies, over time. For now, they're pretty new still.