ASP Introduction

ASP files can contain text, HTML tags, and scripts. Scripts in ASP files can be executed on the server.

Basic knowledge you should have

Before continuing, you should have a basic understanding of the following:

• HTML / XHTML
• Scripting languages, such as JavaScript or VBScript

If you want to learn these items first, please see ourHomepagevisit these tutorials.

What is ASP?

• ASP stands forActive Server Pages (Dynamic Server Pages)
• ASP is a Microsoft technology
• ASP isIISa program that runs in
• IIS stands forInternet Information Services (Internet Information Services)
• IIS isWindows 2000a free component of
• IIS is alsoWindows NT 4.0 Option Packa component of
• This optional package can be downloaded from the Microsoft sitedownload
• PWSsmaller in size - but with the full functionality of IIS
• PWS can be found on yourWindows 95/98 CDfound in

ASP Compatibility

• To run IIS, you need Windows NT 4.0 or a later version
• To run PWS, you need Windows 95 or a later version
• ChiliASP is a technology for running ASP on non-Windows operating systems
• InstantASP is another technology for running ASP on non-Windows operating systems

What is an ASP file?

• ASP files are similar to HTML files
• ASP files can contain text, HTML, XML, and scripts
• Scripts in ASP files can be executed on the server
• The file extension of an ASP file is ".asp"

What is the difference between ASP and HTML?

• When a browser requests an HTML file, the server returns the file
• When a browser requests an ASP file, IIS passes the request to the ASP engine. The ASP engine reads the ASP file line by line and executes the scripts in the file. Finally, the ASP file is returned to the browser as plain HTML.

What can ASP do for you?

• Dynamically edit, change, or add any content to a web page
• Respond to queries or data submitted by users from HTML forms
• Access data or databases, and return results to the browser
• Customize web pages for different users, improving the usability of these pages
• The advantage of using ASP instead of CGI and Perl lies in its simplicity and speed
• Provide security - • because ASP code cannot be viewed from the browser
• Good ASP programming can minimize network traffic

Note:Because ASP scripts run on the server, the browser can display ASP files without needing to support scripts!