What is meant by Application server?
The term "application server" refers to a software platform that hosts and runs applications, particularly those based on client-server architectures. It facilitates the delivery of applications over a network, allowing users to access these applications from various endpoints. Application servers are often responsible for processing business-critical applications and provide functions such as transaction management, security, and database access.
Typical software functions in the area of "application server":
- Application Delivery: Support for the deployment and execution of applications over the network.
- Session Management: Management of user sessions to track the status of applications across multiple requests.
- Transaction Management: Ensuring consistency and integrity during transaction execution in databases.
- Scalability: Ability to dynamically adjust resources to handle demand for applications.
- Security: Implementation of authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect applications and data.
- Integration Services: Support for integrating with other systems and applications, often through APIs or middleware.