A network server in which a group of programs are collectively integrated into a Web server’s environment. Instead of having individually installed programs, network users have access to the server program. These applications are connected to an API which allows higher-level tasks to be performed remotely.
Another advantage of these applications is that licensing requirements can be more easily met, as the users do not usually have their own hard drive, which prevents the installation of so-called pirate copies. It is also possible to install the latest software available on all computers in the network with a single update on the server. This kind of server enables a user to perform sophisticated interactions over the internet, such as querying a database or running other programs loaded on the server.