The basic difference between a web server and an

application server is

Webserver can execute only web applications i,e servlets

and JSPs and has only a single container known as Web

container which is used to interpret/execute web

applications

Application server can execute Enterprise application, i,e

(servlets, jsps, and EJBs) it is having two containers 1.

Web Container(for interpreting/executing servlets and jsps)

2. EJB container(for executing EJBs). it can perform

operations like load balancing , transaction demarcation

etc etc