Headless software (e.g. “headless Java” or “headless Linux”,) is software capable of working on a device without a graphical user interface. Such software receives inputs and provides output through other interfaces like network or serial port and is common on servers and embedded devices.

What is a headless Ubuntu server?

The term “headless Linux” may conjure up images of Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow, but in reality, a headless Linux server is just a server that has no monitor, keyboard or mouse. When large websites use hundreds of servers, it makes little sense to waste precious machine cycles polling unused devices.

What is headless server?

In layman’s terms, a headless server is a computer without a monitor, keyboard or mouse — so an example could be a server room filled with rows of banks of rack-mounted servers. Those are considered headless. They’re managed by a console that has access through either SSH or telnet.