1. An image forming apparatus in which a relay function for sharing data between a plurality of applications and an application are operated, the image forming apparatus comprising: an accepting unit configured to accept a processing request if the processing request is performed via the relay function by using function information of a function provided by the application; an executing unit configured to execute the function provided by the application in response to an instruction according to the accepted processing request; and a notifying unit configured to notify the relay function about a result executed by the executing unit, wherein the accepting unit and the notifying unit are realized as servlets of the application.