I’m just getting started with IT infrastructure and I keep hearing these terms thrown around. Can someone explain the key differences between application servers and backend servers?
I understand they’re both important parts of web architecture, but I’m confused about their specific roles. Do they handle different types of requests? Are they physically separate machines or can they run on the same hardware?
I’ve been reading documentation but most of it assumes prior knowledge that I don’t have yet. Would really appreciate if someone could break this down in simple terms and maybe give some examples of when you’d use one versus the other.
app servers kinda act like a middleman, handling the web requests n running the application logic. backend servers are the catch-all for things like databases n microservices. you can have em on the same machine, but usually they split em up for better performance.
The terms application servers and backend servers can lead to confusion because they serve distinct roles. An application server primarily executes the business logic of an application, managing sessions and processing requests essential for functionality. In contrast, backend servers encompass a broader range of services, including databases, authentication, and file servers, essentially everything that supports the application’s operations behind the scenes. While both can operate on a single machine, many organizations choose to distribute them across multiple servers for enhanced performance and scalability. In summary, application servers are focused on running specific application code, while backend servers include all additional supporting infrastructure.