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The word “application” is often associated with apps installed on smartphones or tablets, possibly with computer applications. Still, few people know that there is a creation called web applications, otherwise – web applications.
Can you tell the web page from the app by opening the browser? Do you know what types of web applications are? Do you know their advantages? No? For a reason, we suggest you read.
What is a Web Application?
A web application is an application run in a browser that provides the user with a specific service through the interface provided.
The vast majority of such applications communicate with the central server to be able to serve the user content and respond to his actions.
Access to the Internet, in this case, is indispensable.
However, some applications can successfully handle and temporarily also work offline or (but less often) do not require an internet connection at all, because they store all data in the browser’s memory.
The desktop application is installed directly on the computer disk as an entity independent of the browser engine.
How do web applications work in practice from the user’s point of view?
To start the web application, open the browser and enter its address in the address field.
The web application will open as a website. Well – a website.
For the uninitiated, it will be impossible to distinguish a site from an app. However, there are fundamental differences between the actions of both. Let’s check what.
Web Applications and Website – Differences
Difference # 1 – information vs interaction
The basic difference between web applications and websites is their functionality.
The websites are informative.
It means that after loading it, you can only read its content, and view graphics, or videos. It’s like holding a leaflet or newspaper.
You can’t do anything (except move to the next subpages, of course).
On the other hand, web applications are interactive.
They provide some specific functionality and provide a more advanced interface, under which we have more options for interacting with the displayed content, e.g., we can enter data, send information, etc.
Here are some examples that will help you understand the differences:
- When you enter the sports club website, and you can only view the schedule of the classes, you are dealing with a website. However, if you can log in to your account, buy a pass, or sign up for classes, it means that you are in the web application.
- When you go to the hotel website and see the photo gallery, information about the property as well as the price list and contact details, but you cannot make a reservation and pay for the stay (or pay an advance), you are on the website. It will be better if you can follow the above, you are dealing with a web application.
- If you watch YouTube videos, launch Spotify in your browser, browse files on Dropbox, or edit a Word file in Google Docs, then you use the web application.
Summarizing:
Website = information
Web application = interaction
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Difference # 2 – Technologies Used
The distinction due to the technologies used can be more complicated than the award due to the usability of applications and sites.
Web pages are built on static HTML files (markup language describing the structure of the site) and CSS styles (language describing the appearance of the page).
On the other hand, web applications also use technologies that enable more advanced communication with the server.
They are usually:
On the server side – PHP, Node.js, ASP.NET, and JSP.
On the client (user) side – JavaScript, AJAX.
In the field of distinguishing applications from websites, there are sometimes problems with the classification of both.
As you already know, websites are built on static HTML and CSS files. And what about sites that are based on CMS, such as Joomla? WordPress (CMS is a content management system that allows you to modify the content of the page from the administrative panel; you can read more about CMS in the entry here.
Given the above classification, you should throw these pages into the application bag.
Here it is worth going back to distinguish because of the usefulness of websites and applications. Even if the site is built on CMS, but it has only an informative and not interactive function, it should not be called an application
Types of Internet Applications
Internet applications are always created on the order of customers and tailored to individual needs.
It means that there are as many types as there are customers.
However, some of the most popular include:
- Booking applications – they enable the booking of accommodation and visits, as well as payments for made reservations.
- Competition applications – often created as part of promotional campaigns for products or services. Through them, users send forms, photos, and texts, or perform other competitive tasks.
- E-learning applications – they are used to perform exercises, repetitions, and tests, to learn or monitor progress.
- Sales applications – they enable you to make purchases, conduct auctions, and other sales transactions.
Advertisement applications – they are used to place offers for the provision of services, as well as the sale of products or real estate. - Transactional applications – they enable making payments and handling online orders; they are used, e.g., in online stores, banking, auction, and announcement platforms.
- CRM systems – i.e., customer relationship management systems. These are applications used in companies to improve work and combined with other systems in the company (e.g., bidding system).
- ERP systems – these applications are designed to organize work, e.g., storage or procurement.
- HR applications – used to recruit employees.
Advantages of Web Applications:
From the user’s point of view, the most important benefits of web applications are:
- Easy access – they can be used on all devices with internet access – regardless of the operating system. The user does not have to have access to his computer or telephone.
- No need to update – unlike desktop applications or popular mobile applications, updating is not on the users’ side. You don’t receive notifications about available updates, and you don’t have to download extensions or install anything. Their owners make updates of web applications on servers.
- Data security – if your equipment fails, the data stored in the application is secure because it is on an external server.
Web applications also bring benefits to their owners. They are, among others:
- Data security for the second time – databases are stored and secured centrally.
- Maintaining applications – updating them is usually more accessible than in the case of regular applications because no user action is required. You can also quickly expand them and improve their functionality, as well as integrate with other systems.
Due to the significant advantages of web applications, they are becoming more and more popular – more and more company websites are in the form of web applications.
They bring many possibilities – both for users and application owners. T
hey, are useful, attractive, and functional, which is why when considering the implementation of a new solution in a company, it is worth considering just the web application.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is a web application?
A web application is an interface-based application launched based on a web browser. In general, Internet access is required to run such a web application.
2. Types of Internet applications
There are many types of Internet applications, and you can distinguish applications: booking, competition, e-learning, sales, advertising, transactional, CRM systems, ERP systems, HR applications, etc.
3. Advantages of web applications
Web/internet applications have many benefits, including easy access, no updates, data security, etc.
