Here's an illustration of the process of querying a database and returning
data to the browser:
Step 1 Web browser
Web browser
requests dynamic
page.
Request
Response
Step 9 Web server
sends finished page
to requesting
WEB SERVER
browser
Step 2 Web server
finds page and
passes it to
Hi
application server.
Step 8 Application
server inserts data in
page, and then
passes the page to
Step 3 Application
the web server
server scans page for
instructions.
Application server
Step 4 Application
server sends query to
Step 7 Driver
database driver.
passes recordset to
application server
Query
Recordset
Step 5 Driver
Step 6 Recordset is
executes the query
Database driver
returned to driver
against the database.
Database
You can use almost any database with your web application, as long as the
appropriate database driver for it is installed on the server.
How a web application works 223