The Internet has become a critical tool for information and communication that has reached much of the developed world. It is comprised of numerous components, of which the World Wide Web (WWW) is the largest and fastest growing. Efficient functionality of the WWW depends on a multitude of web servers in operation throughout the world. A web server, in and of itself. is frequently inefficient. We propose several concepts-all of which involve the assimilation of computational intelligence into a web server-that will ultimately improve its performance. A web server would then become a "smart" server that will learn during its operation and subsequently adapt its components and behavior to optimize many of its functions and modes of operation. Furthermore, it will be more secure, robust, and reliable via a hierarchical security system. A smart server will ultimately be more efficient, thus providing an enhanced experience for the multitude of people making use of the WWW every day. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.