What is the Difference Between Web Server and Application Server?

The main difference between a web server and an application server lies in the type of content they serve and their functionalities. Here are the key differences:

1. Content: Web servers deliver static content, such as HTML pages, images, videos, and files, primarily in response to HTTP requests from a web browser. In contrast, application servers deliver dynamic content, like real-time updates, personalized information, and customer support, by enabling interaction between end-user clients and server-side applications.
2. Functionality: Web servers fulfill requests from clients exclusively in HTTP, while application servers provide business logic to clients and are not limited to HTTP. An application server adds business logic to compute the web server's response.
3. Protocols: Web servers primarily use HTTP, and they also support FTP and other protocols. Application servers, on the other hand, may handle business logic through any number of protocols, including HTTP, CGI, and other proprietary protocols.
4. Resources: Web servers typically consume less resources, as they are designed for serving static content. Application servers, on the other hand, require more resources, as they are responsible for handling dynamic content and business logic.
5. Run Environment: Web servers arrange the runtime environment for web applications. Application servers, however, arrange the runtime environment for enterprise applications.

In a typical deployment, a website that provides both static and dynamically generated content runs web servers for the static content and application servers for the dynamic content. Many popular web servers and application servers today are hybrids of both, and the two types of servers are usually deployed together to fulfill user requests for content from a website.

Comparative Table: Web Server vs Application Server

Here is a table comparing the differences between a web server and an application server:

In summary, a web server is responsible for accepting HTTP requests and serving HTTP responses, primarily for static content like HTML pages. It consumes fewer resources compared to an application server. On the other hand, an application server exposes business logic to clients, generating dynamic content, and utilizes more resources than a web server. It supports additional protocols like RPC/RMI alongside HTTP/s.