What Is an Application Server; Types of Application Servers
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An application server usually sits in between the database and network. However, it is playing a major role in the functioning of an application. If you are developing applications, you should have a clear understanding of what is an application server.
You will be able to develop and run applications within it. By doing that, you will get the chance to stay away from developing applications locally. This is one of the most preferred methods on how clients install applications individually. Continue to read and we will share all the information that you need to know.
What Is an Application Server?
In simple terms, you can call it a mixed framework of software, which is providing you with the chance to create web applications and run them in a server environment.
The application servers can usually be complex as you can discover numerous computational elements running in them. These computational elements are designed to cater to different tasks that you have. No matter what, they are in a position to power up web-based software, multiple clouds, and applications.
It is usually sitting in between the back-end tier you can find in a database server and a web-based tier.. You are provided with numerous APIs to access the functionality offered.
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You can think about using it for many different purposes. They all depend on what you are installing within an application server. For example, you will be able to have different types of these servers, such as general-purpose type, database application servers, web servers, and enterprise types.
People usually tend to pair web servers with application servers. Or else, it is possible for you to discover web servers within them. When this feature is available, you will be able to converge them to get a web application server. This is where you can run web applications within the server and make them available for people to access. They can come along with their user interfaces so that people can manage.
What is the difference between an application server and a web server?
Presently we should clear up another inquiry: what is the contrast between an application and a web server?
In numerous ways, the application server and the webserver elements are indistinguishable. Notwithstanding, the application server executes business rationale utilizing many conventions, while the web server handles HTTP demands and commonly returns static substance as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML code.
Likewise, as we said over, one more contrast between an application and a web server is that it ordinarily doesn’t uphold exchanges or information base connections (even though it can deal with reserving, grouping, and burden adjusting).
Concerning the contrast between an application server and a web holder, most compartments execute just essential Java determination demands. Then again, application servers carry out the whole Java EE Specification.
Why to Use of Application Server
Application waiter assists with conveying best handling power and memory unit for running their applications in the constant and offering appropriate climate to run specific applications.
The fundamental motivation behind utilizing of utilization server is given beneath:
- To diminish the size and its intricacy of all client programs
- Getting the best execution requires storing and handling the whole information stream.
- It executes security for information and end-client traffic.
How Application Server Works?
Upon discovering answers to the question on what is application server, you should figure out how does an application server work. They usually work in conjunction with the other different elements you can find, such as session controllers and media servers.
In other words, they provide business intelligence and business logic for the delivery of supplementary services. Both business users, as well as residential service subscribers, will be able to get them. You just need to understand how application server works and then continue to get the desired functionality based on your preferences.
Back in the day, application servers were being used for IP Centrex applications and VoIP applications. However, you can now see how they are being used for many other applications, such as IP communications such as unified text chat, video, voice, and presence.
Types of Application Servers
Some of the most popular application server examples are listed below:
- Glassfish: It is provided by Sun Microsystem and now is acquired by Oracle
- Websphere: It is provided by IBM
- JBoss: It is an open-source server that is provided by the JBoss community
- Weblogic: It is provided by Oracle and it is more secure than the previous ones mentioned above
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Advantages of Application Server
1- Performance
If the application you develop is heavy usage, it can deliver all the assistance you need. That’s because you can accommodate the server to manage traffic.
2- Configuration
You will be able to configure it effortlessly. A centralized environment is available to do the configurations. Hence, there is no need to worry about making changes to the systems individually.
3- Security
Data will be decentralized within this kind of server. Hence, you can make your data secure. Moreover, you will notice a security layer present in the form of a firewall between the app server and web server.
4- Transaction Support
Transaction support will help you to take care of all the coding-related matters. Based on that, you can benefit the clients at a low time and cost.
5- Data Integrity
You can ensure the integrity of data on this type of server. That’s because it would follow a decentralized approach to managing data. You can also receive updates as well as upgrades to the centralized business logic.
6- Scalability
You can scale it up based on the needs that you have. All you have to do is to add new nodes to the network.
7- Easy Maintenance
You can allocate the responsibilities and roles to the standalone computers. It will be possible for you to upgrade, repair, replace, and do many other things to the servers.
Disadvantages of Application Server
1- Network Delay
Once you implement an application server, it would create some unwanted coarse interfaces behind the firewall. This would result in a network delay.
2- Cost
As you use it, you will have to bear more expenses. One of the most significant expenses is on the setup process.
3- Logging
It would eventually get more calls during production issues. Even after the issue is resolved, it would recollect server messages.
4- Coding
You will have to focus on coding for maintenance. This includes managing the web server as well as remote machines.
5- Bandwidth Usage
Users always prefer to run application servers on the network. This would enhance the bandwidth usage of the network.
What Is an Application Server Used For?
Along with understanding what an application server is, you should also understand purpose of application server. When you have a need to integrate a web application along with a database and server, you can think about using this type of server
One of the key benefits is the ability to provide integrity to data and code. That’s because you can have a centralized approach to keep the applications updated and upgraded in a convenient manner.
In case if you don’t have an application server, you will end up getting different versions of the same app throughout numerous platforms. This will eventually lead you to issues with software compatibility.
When it comes to the question “what is the purpose of an application server?“, you can also think about using it to get an extra layer of security. That’s because it would sit in between databases and web pages.
Based on that, it would act in the form of an additional barrier to ensure your protection against the cyber-attacks that take place in the form of SQL injection.
You can experience this benefit as there is no interconnection between a database and a web page. You can keep peace of mind as you are receiving maximum protection against malicious SQL injections.
If you are having a large and heavily used application, you will come across the need to enhance its performance. This is where you should look for an application server. Then you will be able to have extra control over the traffic that your application is receiving.
This will contribute a lot towards the performance of large applications. Along with that, you will also be able to minimize the overheads that you will have to face when managing them.
An application server can easily be managed. When you look at what are application server examples, you will notice how many of them are put in place because of this benefit. You will be able to pool the database connections based on your preferences.
This is why you can easily scale it out based on your needs. On the other hand, it has the potential to act in the form of a web server farm as well. There is no need for you to worry too much about introducing any additional connections into the underlying databases for experiencing this benefit.
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How to choose the best app server
Now you have basic idea about application servers definition; There are three different types of application servers available on the market:
Active application server
This type of server provides optimal conditions for implementing business logic on the backend side. These servers are also called stateful servers.
Web information server
This is one of several types of application servers for Java that creates pages from databases using HTML templates. These are also called stateless servers.
Component server
This type of server is responsible for accessing the database and components such as COBRA, DLL, and Java Bean. It is the perfect choice for transaction processing.
These are the different types of application servers available for developers, and you need to choose the right one for you.
Conclusion
In this article, you could get to know about what is an application server and what does an application server do. While keeping this in mind, you can continue to use it and get the desired functionality offered out of it. You will be able to receive numerous applications.
On top of that, you will often be able to group its functions together, so that you can deliver much-needed support to all the sub-systems. Along with that, you can provide them with the chance to create a comprehensive service platform. For more detailed information, check this post out!
