application server

   1.   A designer's or developer's suite of
   software that helps programmers isolate the business
   logic in their programs from the platform-related code.
   Application servers can handle all of the application
   logic and connectivity found in client-server
   applications.  Many application servers also offer
   features such as transaction management, clustering and
   failover, and load balancing; nearly all offer ODBC
   support.

   Application servers range from small footprint,
   web-based processors for intelligent appliances or remote
   embedded devices, to complete environments for assembling,
   deploying, and maintaining scalable multi-tier
   applications across an enterprise.

   2.   Production programs run on a mid-sized
   computer that handle all application operations between
   browser-based computers and an organisation's back-end
   business applications or databases.  The application
   server works as a translator, allowing, for example, a
   customer with a browser to search an online retailer's
   database for pricing information.

   3.   The device on which application server
   software runs.  Application Service Providers offer
   commercial access to such devices.

   <Citrix Application Serving White Paper>.

   <Application Server Sites, a list maintained by Vayda & Herzum>.

   <The Application Server Zone at DevX,>.

   <TechMetrix Research's Application Server Directory,>.

   (2001-03-30)