A Web Application Engine is an extension to web servers that process/interpret web application code. Some app engines are built into various web servers others must be installed.

App Engine Tip

• Carefully select your application platform. While all engines can accomplish nearly identical functionality some will be a better fit for where you are and where your web future will be.

Popular Web App Engines

• CGI Scripts (Perl,C/C++,PHP)
  The first and still widely used web app, built into practically every web server
• ColdFusion
  Very popular scaleable web app. Can be purchased for most UNIX and WinNT servers
• ASP (Active Server Pages)
  Microsoft's version of a scaleable engine. Built into Microsoft IIS
• Java Servlets/JSP (Java Server Pages)
  Newer, very powerful engine. Built into some web servers can be purchased for others.

Further Reading