An Application Server is a software framework providing an environment where applications can run, no matter what they are or what functions they perform. It abstracts the business logic of an application from the client-side interface.
Application Servers are essential for managing complex business processes, enabling seamless integration with various backend systems. They provide the middleware necessary for applications to create dynamic, user-centric web pages and handle client requests effectively and securely. They also support web applications by enabling load balancing, failover, transaction management, and resource pooling, ensuring the applications perform reliably and efficiently under various conditions.
What are the critical features of an Application Server?In finance, Application Servers enable real-time transaction processing and data management. In healthcare, they enhance the performance and reliability of patient management systems. In retail, they support high-volume e-commerce platforms, ensuring seamless customer experiences.
Application Servers are crucial for organizations as they enable efficient and robust application deployment, management, and integration, supporting mission-critical business processes and services.
Application servers function by dividing applications into three parts: a web- browser based interface such as a computer, an application or server which runs “business logic,” and a database of some kind. The server receives computer outputs, such as web page requests from third-party users. Once it has received these requests, it applies to them what is known as “business logic.” What this means is that it takes what it has received and transforms it using a specialized set of protocols, including security protocols. This transformation turns the data that it has taken in into content that can perform whatever function it is meant to fulfill. The server then sends it on to its next destination.
Companies can enjoy many different types of benefits if they choose to employ application servers:
As shown by the above-mentioned benefits, application servers are versatile. By using hardware that can do so many jobs with a high level of efficiency, companies can cut costs. Instead of spending money on many devices to do each of the things that application servers can, organizations now have an all-in-one solution.
There are a number of features which every application server should possess:
Although they are often used in tandem, application servers differ from web servers in a number of ways. In order to avoid confusing the two of them, some very significant distinctions should be pointed out.
Web servers can only deliver static content to the people using it. This means that the content that is delivered by web servers is unchanging. They are limited to delivering a single content type, which limits their usefulness. Application servers lack this limitation. They can deliver both static content as well as what is known as dynamic content. The flexibility that comes with being able to handle content that changes based on specific parameters makes the difference of capability between application servers and web servers rather stark.
Web servers can only run web-based applications. While this is valuable, it is also very limiting. Companies that wish to run proprietary software cannot use a web server to do so. Therefore, it can at best fulfill one role within a company. Application servers are able to deliver not only web-based content, but also enterprise applications. This enables it to fulfill multiple corporate functions.
