Active Server Pages.

A specification developed by Microsoft for a dynamically created Web page that utilizes ActiveX scripting, usually VB script or Jscript code. When a Web browser requests an ASP page, the Web server generates a page with HTML code and sends it back to the browser. Commonly referred to as "ASP pages" (even though this is redundant), they are similar to CGI scripts but they enable Visual Basic programmers to work with familiar tools.

Web sites using ASP pages are said to be in a dynamic environment, because they are database-driven, in terms of retrieving and updating content. That's in contrast to a static environment (one based solely on "flat HTML," which can only be changed by a Webmaster or author).

ASP pages are typically used for pages that have dynamic, or frequently changing information. For example, an ASP script might get a visitor's zip code through a form on a Web page, then customize the content on the resulting page based on that information.

Developed by Micosoft, Active Server Pages use server side processing via Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) to access databases or execute other interactive operations. IIS 4.0 includes scripting engines for Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) and Microsoft JScript. ActiveX scripting engines for Perl and REXX are available through third-party developers.

Active Server Pages use the extension .asp.

ASP = Application Service Provider.

A service (usually a business) that provides remote access to an application program across a network protocol, typically HTTP, for a rental fee. In contrast to an applications vendor, ASP is a company that provides applications or services that are distributed through a network to many customers in exchange for ongoing smaller payments (as opposed to one fixed, upfront price).

An ASP is a new breed of company that provides IT services for companies that need to reduce expenditures and alleviate the confusion that new technology often brings. These third-party entities manage and distribute software-based services and solutions to customers across a wide area network (WAN) from a central data center. Similar in structure to an Internet Business Service (IBS), ASPs are different in that they focus on ways for companies to outsource any or all aspects of their information technology needs.

There are five main categories of "apps on tap":

• Enterprise: ASPs for high-end business applications
• Local/Regional: ASPs for smaller firms in a local area
• Specialist: ASPs that provide applications for a specific need (such as Web site services or human resources)
• Vertical Market: ASPs that provide support to a specific industry (such as healthcare)
• Volume Business: ASPs that supply small or medium-sized businesses with prepackaged application services in volume.

A common scenario goes like this: A small business pays an ASP a monthly fee to rent access to remotely hosted applications over a secure network. The ASP does this for many customers and has large investments in high-quality data centers, networks, skilled engineers, and integrated hardware and software systems. For the small business, this translates into pay-as-you-go access to enterprises without up-front investment in software, hardware, networks, or an army of IT personnel.