Final answer:
The statement is true as application programs often function as an intermediary between the Web server and the database, ensuring efficient data processing and retrieval in a three-tier architecture system.
Step-by-step explanation:
An application program is a computer program designed to carry out a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself, typically to be used by end-users. Word processors, media players, and accounting software are examples. The statement that application programs serve as an intermediary between the Web server and the database is true.
Application programs, such as web applications, often rely on a three-tier architecture, where the presentation layer (the web server), the logic layer (the application itself), and the data layer (the database) are distinctly separate. This separation of concerns ensures that the application can effectively manage user requests, process the data, and store or retrieve it from the database seamlessly.
A common example is a web service that receives a user's request through a web server, processes the request by interacting with a database using server-side scripts like PHP, Java, or ASP.NET, and then sends the results back to the client.