'server-side' originates from the combination of 'server' and 'side', where 'server' refers to a computer or program that manages access to a centralized resource or service, and 'side' indicates the aspect or part of a system.

The term 'server-side' evolved from the increasing complexity of web applications, distinguishing operations handled by the server from those handled by the client.

Initially, it referred to any server-related operations, but now it specifically denotes operations executed on the server in a client-server architecture.