What is the term for a program that processes form data on the server side?

The term that refers to a program processing form data on the server side is a server-side script. Server-side scripts are executed on the web server, enabling them to handle data sent from web forms, manipulate or store that data, and generate dynamic web pages as responses. This is crucial for creating interactive web applications where user input needs to be processed remotely before any action can take place or acknowledgment sent back to the user.

The ability of server-side scripts to interact with databases also allows for applications to retrieve or store information based on user inputs securely. This separation of processing tasks ensures that sensitive information is managed properly, which is essential for web security.

The other terms mentioned do not pertain to the processing of form data. An application server provider refers to companies that provide software and infrastructure for applications and services, but they do not specifically denote the program type used to process form data. Client-side scripts run in the user's browser and are used for immediate interactions or validations without needing server communication for every action. The role of a database manager is to oversee database operations, which may involve server-side programming, but it is not specifically about processing form data.