In server-side scripting, what must the server do to render a page?

In server-side scripting, the primary function of the server when rendering a page is to build and display the page. This process involves executing the server-side scripts that generate dynamic content based on user requests or data inputs. The server processes the script, often interacting with databases or other resources to gather the necessary data, and then constructs the final HTML document that will be sent back to the client’s browser.

Building and displaying the page means that the server is actively involved in creating the final output that users see in their web browsers, as opposed to simply transmitting static files that have already been pre-rendered. This ability to dynamically generate pages allows for a more interactive and personalized web experience, accommodating specific user needs or actions.

While sending data back to the client is indeed a part of the process, it's a result of the server's task of building and displaying the page. Similarly, downloading resources or storing user information may be supplementary activities that occur during a web transaction but are not the core responsibility of the server's rendering duty. The essential function remains centered on the server's role in constructing a page that incorporates all necessary elements as instructed by the server-side script.