What is “application client container” ?

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A container that supports application client components.

In Java EE (Enterprise Edition), an “application client container” refers to the runtime environment provided by the Java EE server to deploy and run enterprise application client components. These components are typically written in Java and are part of a Java EE enterprise application.

Here are some key points about the application client container:

  1. Separation of Concerns: The application client container separates the client-side application logic from the server-side components. This allows for a clear distinction between the code that runs on the client machine and the code that executes on the server.
  2. Life Cycle Management: The container manages the life cycle of the application client components. It handles tasks such as instantiation, execution, and destruction of the client-side components.
  3. Connection Handling: The container provides facilities for managing connections between the application client and the enterprise server. It abstracts the complexities of communication, allowing the client to interact with server-side components without dealing with low-level networking details.
  4. Security: The container often incorporates security mechanisms to ensure secure communication between the application client and the server. This includes authentication and authorization processes.
  5. Resource Management: The container manages resources such as database connections and transactions on behalf of the application client. This helps in efficient resource utilization and ensures proper handling of transactions.
  6. Deployment Descriptor: Like other Java EE components, the application client components are typically configured using deployment descriptors (e.g., ejb-jar.xml or application-client.xml) that specify various settings and behaviors.

In summary, the application client container is a runtime environment provided by the Java EE server for executing and managing application client components, enabling the development of distributed and scalable enterprise applications.