Application server

An application server is a server that hosts applications^[1] or software that delivers a business application through a communication protocol.^[2] For a typical web application, the application server sits behind the web servers.

An application server framework is a service layer model. It includes software components available to a software developer through an application programming interface. An application server may have features such as clustering, fail-over, and load-balancing. The goal is for developers to focus on the business logic.^[3]

^ Ottinger, Joseph (1 September 2008). "What is an App Server?". TheServerSide.com. Retrieved 2022-02-06. an application server provides an environment where applications can run, no matter what the applications are or what they do
^ Sintes, Tony (2002-08-23). "App server, Web server: What's the difference?". JavaWorld. Retrieved 2022-06-14. [A]n application server exposes business logic to client applications through various protocols
^ Ceri, Stefano; Fraternali, Piero; Bongio, Aldo; Brambilla, Marco; Comai, Sara; Matella, Maristella (2003). Designing Data-Intensive Web Applications. Morgan Kaufmann. doi:10.1016/B978-1-55860-843-6.X5000-2. ISBN 1-55860-843-5.