What’s in a Name?

People sometimes ask us what the name “Port 80 Services” represents. Well, there are two answers to that question. One of which, you will certainly not be surprised to learn, is really rather geeky. (People invariably regret asking this question, I warn you now).

So, Port 80 is the port number assigned to internet Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the port from which a computer sends and receives Web client-based communication and messages from a Web server, and is used to send and receive HTML and/or data.

Sorry… what?

And now for those of you who do not speak geek, here’s that again in English.

When you open up your browser to visit a website, you are asking it to connect to a server somewhere in a dingy basement where that website lives, and to talk to it. The result is that the website can be loaded on your screen and you can interact with it.

Web servers have lots of different “ports”, or doors, if you like, and they all serve different purposes. However the door (port) that browsers need to knock on in order to access the website is number 80 – Port 80. Bet you wished you’d never asked now…

So that is the main reason for our name. There’s also a 2nd, less geeky and somewhat NSWF reason for it, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you what it is. Best guesses on a postcard, winner gets a free website. (Just kidding).