Oracle forms overview. Oracle internet platform consists of 3 components:

oracle application server (forms service + OC4J)
oracle developer suite (forms developer + object navigator + form module)
oracle database

Oracle application server includes forms service
– new generation of tools that allow devs to deploy new and existing forms on the www
– one component is OC4J (oracle containers for J2EE) which allows users to view forms in a web browser

Oracle Developer Suite contains oracle forms developer which allows devs to create forms using
DATA BLOCK WIZARD
LOV WIZARD
LAYOUT EDITOR
PL/SQL EDITOR
OBJECT NAVIGATOR
PROPERTY PALATE

Object Navigator is the interface to form builder, it allows devs to create, edit, save and compile forms.

a form is composed of the following objects:
WINDOW
CANVAS
TRIGGER
BLOCK
LOV
TEXT / buttons etc

A window is the familiar on-screen element with scrollbars, etc
a form can have many windows
a window can have many canvases
a canvas is the area where controls (eg text / buttons) are drawn.