·         Emphasis on three-tier applications and the data tier.  Illustrates the importance of developing applications in the real world.

·         Real world design issues.  Students learn to plan and develop multi-transaction applications.  See Transaction Diagrams for Applications that begin in Chapter 7 and provide a solid methodology for teaching the development of complicated web applications.

·         Chapter summaries and many exercises provide instructional support.  Key concepts are consolidated at end of each chapter and numerous excercises provide instructor flexibility when assigning homework.

·         Project emphasis throughout entire text.  Students develop a large application gradually and instructors are provided with a ready-made, semester long project.

·         Platform independent and language flexible. The authors stress that different languages can serve different purposes when programming web applications. Perl is used as the primary language, but coverage of ASP and PHP is also provided.

·         Additional material online. The “Web Extension” is an online extension of the book, providing access to additional chapters, appendices and coverage of current events related to web applications and technologies.. Includes coverage of alternative programming environments, ASP and PHP, two chapters on XML, coverage of advanced JavaScript, and more.