The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

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
   (http://citrix.com/press/corpinfo/application_serving_wp_0700.pdf).

   Application Server Sites, a list maintained by Vayda & Herzum
   (http://componentfactory.org/links/appl.htm).

   The Application Server Zone at DevX,
   (http://appserver-zone.com/default.asp).

   TechMetrix Research's Application Server Directory,
   (http://techmetrix.com/trendmarkers/techmetrixasd.php3).

   (2001-03-30)