Active Server Pages, often referred to as Classic ASP, is Microsoft’s foundational server-side scripting technology designed to create dynamic and interactive web pages. It empowers developers to build web pages that adapt to user interactions and data, ensuring a consistent experience regardless of the web browser being used by the visitor.
Classic ASP utilizes server-side scripting, meaning the code is processed on the web server before the page is sent to the user’s browser. This process allows for the dynamic generation of web page content. The primary scripting language for Classic ASP is VBScript, but it also supports other languages like JScript, Microsoft’s implementation of JavaScript.
Pages built with Classic ASP are identified by the .asp file extension, unlike static HTML pages that use .htm or .html. When a browser requests a file with the .asp extension, the web server recognizes it as an Active Server Page and processes any ASP code embedded within it. The server executes the ASP script, generates standard HTML output, and then sends only this HTML code to the user’s web browser. Crucially, the ASP code itself remains on the server and is never exposed to the browser.
To run web pages containing ASP code, simply opening the .asp file in a browser will not work. These pages require a web server that is configured to support ASP. This is the origin of the name “Active Server Pages” – the “active” functionality is dependent on the server processing.
Initially introduced by Microsoft for its Internet Information Services (IIS) web server, Classic ASP is deeply integrated with the Windows ecosystem. IIS is available across various Windows operating systems, from older versions like Windows NT4, XP Pro, and Vista to more recent systems like Windows 7, and Windows Server editions (e.g., Windows 2000, 2003, 2008). Consequently, IIS on a Windows server is typically the optimal environment for running ASP applications.
For individuals using Windows who wish to experiment with Classic ASP on their personal computers, Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) must be installed. The good news is that IIS, or its lightweight version Personal Web Server (PWS), is included at no extra cost with Windows operating systems, providing a readily accessible platform for ASP development and testing. For users on Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista, IIS can be installed using the Microsoft Web Platform Installer. It’s worth noting that Windows XP Home Edition does not offer support for IIS or PWS.
