'server-operated' originates from the combination of 'server' and 'operate,' where 'server' refers to a computer or program that manages access to a centralized resource or service, and 'operate' means to control or manage.

The term 'server-operated' evolved from the increasing use of servers in computing environments, emphasizing the role of servers in managing operations.

Initially, it referred to any operation managed by a server, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.