---
title: Configuring an application
description: The application represents the protected web application as a whole. Including the virtual host and the site allows PingAccess to route requests directed at the front-end name to the correct back-end resource. By including a web session, you specify how user credential data is stored and for how long. After you create the application and its root resource, you can add one or more rules to control access to the protected web application.
component: pingaccess
version: 9.0
page_id: pingaccess:pingaccess_use_cases:pa_web_gateway_configuring_an_app
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingaccess/9.1/pingaccess_use_cases/pa_web_gateway_configuring_an_app.html
revdate: May 8, 2024
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingaccess/9.1/pingaccess_use_cases/pa_web_gateway_configuring_an_app.html
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Configuring an application

## About this task

The application represents the protected web application as a whole. Including the virtual host and the site allows PingAccess to route requests directed at the front-end name to the correct back-end resource. By including a web session, you specify how user credential *(tooltip: \<div class="paragraph">
\<p>Information used to identify a subject for access purposes (for example, username and password). A credential can also be a certificate.\</p>
\</div>)* data is stored and for how long. After you create the application and its root resource, you can add one or more rules to control access to the protected web application.

Within the application, you can add one or more resources. Resources are specific components that require a different degree of security. You can apply different rules to a resource, letting you apply specific controls to portions of an application. This example procedure does not include resources. For information about adding resources to an application, see [Configuring resource ordering in PingAccess](../pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide/pa_configuring_resource_ordering.html).

For more information about this procedure, including optional steps that aren't included here, see [Adding an application](../pingaccess_user_interface_reference_guide/pa_adding_an_app.html).

## Steps

1. Click **Applications**, then go to **Applications > Applications**.

2. Click **[icon: plus, set=fa]Add Application**.

3. In the **Name** field, enter a unique name for the application, up to 64 characters, including special characters and spaces.

4. In the **Context Root** field, enter the context root for the application.

   The context root represents the context at which the application is accessed at the site and must meet the following criteria:

   * It must start with `/`.

   * It can contain additional `/` path separators.

   * It must not end with `/`.

   * It must not contain wildcards or regular expression strings.

   * The combination of the **Virtual Host** and **Context Root** must be unique.

5. In the **Virtual Host** list, select the virtual host you created.

6. In the **Application Type** section, click **Web**.

7. In the **Web Session** list, select the web session you created.

8. In the **Destination** section, click **Site**, then select the site you created.

9. Click **Save**.

10. Click **Applications**, then go to **Applications > Applications**.

11. Expand the new application in the list and click the **Pencil** icon.

12. Click the **Web Policy** tab.

13. Drag your rule from **Available Rules** onto the policy bar.

14. Click **Save**.