Abstract

Build a basic web server using the Flask framework to serve web pages, handle HTTP requests, and create dynamic web applications. This project introduces web development fundamentals and server-side programming.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of Python syntax
• Knowledge of web concepts (HTTP, URLs, requests)
• Familiarity with command-line operations
• Understanding of client-server architecture
• Basic knowledge of HTML (helpful but not required)

Getting Started

1. Install Flask

   pip install flask

   pip install flask

2. Run the Web Server

   command

   python basicwebserver.py

   command

   python basicwebserver.py

3. Access the Server

   • Open your browser and go to http://localhost:5000http://localhost:5000
   • You should see “Hello, World!” displayed

Code Explanation

Flask Application Setup

from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

Creates a Flask application instance that will handle web requests and responses.

Route Definition

@app.route("/")
def index():
    return "Hello, World!"

@app.route("/")
def index():
    return "Hello, World!"

Defines a route that responds to requests at the root URL (”/”) with a simple text response.

Server Execution

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app.run(debug=True)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app.run(debug=True)

Starts the development server with debug mode enabled for automatic reloading and error reporting.

Features

• HTTP Server: Serves web content over HTTP protocol
• Route Handling: Maps URLs to Python functions
• Development Mode: Debug mode for easy development
• Automatic Reloading: Server restarts when code changes
• Error Reporting: Detailed error messages for debugging

Next Steps

Enhancements

• Add multiple routes and pages
• Implement HTML templates with Jinja2
• Add CSS styling and static files
• Create forms and handle POST requests
• Implement user sessions and authentication
• Add database integration
• Create REST API endpoints
• Deploy to production server

Learning Extensions

• Study HTTP protocol and status codes
• Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Explore Flask extensions and blueprints
• Practice with database integration (SQLAlchemy)
• Understand web security concepts
• Learn about deployment and hosting

Educational Value

This project teaches:

• Web Development Fundamentals: Understanding client-server architecture
• Flask Framework: Introduction to Python web frameworks
• HTTP Protocol: Working with web requests and responses
• Route Mapping: Connecting URLs to application logic
• Server Development: Creating applications that serve web content
• Debug Workflow: Using development tools for web applications

Perfect for beginning web development and understanding how web servers work.