Difference between web server, web container and application server

Web Server: It provides HTTP Request and HTTP response. It handles request from client only through HTTP protocol. It contains Web Container. Web Application mostly deployed on web Server. EX: Servlet JSP

Web Container: it maintains the life cycle for Servlet Object. Calls the service method for that servlet object. pass the HttpServletRequest and HttpServletResponse Object

Application Server: It holds big Enterprise application having big business logic. It is Heavy Weight or it holds Heavy weight Applications. Ex: EJB

Your question is similar to below:

What is the difference between application server and web server?

In Java: Web Container or Servlet Container or Servlet Engine : is used to manage the components like Servlets, JSP. It is a part of the web server.

Web Server or HTTP Server: A server which is capable of handling HTTP requests, sent by a client and respond back with a HTTP response.

Application Server or App Server: can handle all application operations between users and an organization's back end business applications or databases.It is frequently viewed as part of a three-tier application with: Presentation tier, logic tier,Data tier