Web app development is the subset of web development that doesn’t fall into the category of standard websites or mobile apps, as the name suggests. They have revolutionized the way we operate bring advantages and disadvantages equally with it.
What is a web application? Many of us use web apps daily in our lives without knowing what it is, how it functions and how does it benefit us. To understand web apps in-depth, you need to have an overall idea about them. Web apps are software applications that run on your web server instead of on a local device operating system. Hence, they can only be accessed with an active internet connection through a browser interface. Web app development takes less time and a small development team to develop the web app. Front-end and back-end web application development make it a success. There are three different types of web apps that are used for accomplishing different features. Let’s have a look at them.
The 3 Types of web apps
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Client-side web apps
The client-side apps have a front-end dominance, with user interface (UI) being the focus of these apps. They keep UX a priority and benefit the users with high-performance levels. The client-side rendering usually leads to little or no buffering time to load a page making the page highly responsive.
Front-end uses JavaScript, HTML or CSS.
- JavaScript is the most-used, core programming language of client-side web apps for coding. It enables them to develop dynamic and basic functionality features of web apps or websites.
- HTML is a core web development services‘ technology that is responsible for developing the web page content. HTML describes how to display images, text, audio, and videos to a web app.
- CSS is a front-end programming language used for denoting the web page presentation. It focuses on fonts, colors, and layouts of the web app or web page, everything related to the first impression of a web app.
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Server-side web apps
It has a back-end development dominance composed of building databases, APIs, servers, and other background processes. The web server uses dynamic codes here. They are more secure and compatible. Therefore, it works best with static content as it requires some time to send a request and receive an answer.
Back-end focuses on programming languages, servers, databases, and APIs.
- Programming languages take care of the web app functionalities. They work with databases, manage user connections, and secure authentications. Some examples of programming languages are Java, Python, PHP, and Ruby. Companies can use more than one language to examine the utility.
- Servers do not use any domain-specific language and respond to client network-based requests by retrieving information through a network connection to serve the clients.
- Database store application data. The developers usually are familiar with query languages that request and retrieve data using queries. For example, SQL is the standard go-to query language that has multiple versions extending the additional functionality.
- APIs connect two or more software systems that have no specific language to function. Developers can create APIs and share them with other developers publicly or can only use them for their organization.
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Single-page apps
Single-page apps or SPA wield power from only one page and benefit from client-side and server-side apps equally. Many web and web app developers use server-side rendering to develop single-page apps to restrain entire loading pages from executing an action or searching data.
The web app should be programmed so that the clients only benefit from it. Still, it isn’t easy to obtain in a tech-savvy world with other factors playing a more significant role in impacting such application development. Web application development has distinctive benefits than web development services, unfortunately with advantages come disadvantages. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and make web apps a success.
Advantages
- Cost: Web app development is much cheaper than other types of app development as they do not require much development time.
- Accessibility: Web apps can be used on most browsers and works in the same way on each.
- Customize: The content inside web apps can be easily customized. It is easy to change the web app interface making it user-friendly for end-users.
- Download: You can directly use web apps on your browser instead of downloading them to use them.
- Increase flexibility: Increased application facility and allows you to work remotely with internet access.
- Secure data: The authority has direct access to the servers, lowering the risk of unauthorized access. The data is controlled centrally.
- More Storage: The web apps have virtually infinite spaces with cloud usage, increasing storage space.
- Client secure log-in: The modern web portal and the automated process improves customer satisfaction.
- Maintenance: The web apps upgrade automatically through a central point, maintaining a consistent system with the up-to-date software.
- Integration: Simple and easy integration process with other systems.
- Easy to setup: Unlike other web development services, web application development takes less time to set up in easy steps.
Disadvantages
- Internet Connection: Web apps rely on the internet every time they want to access it. If you have no or lose internet connection, you will not access the web apps.
- Security: The web apps lack a quality control system leading to a higher security risk.
- Availability: They are difficult to find as they are not available on the Play Store and Apple Store. Hence, it is equally challenging to raise awareness about the web apps to the audience.
- Browser Support: Web apps do not use the same browsers, so making sure your app supports various browsers becomes crucial.
- Web Issues: The failure of a website leads to the downfall of web apps, and they are interdependent.
In conclusion, web apps use a combination of front-end and back-end technologies to developing distinctive features. Web app development is slightly different from web development. It is widely used across multiple browsers. The advancement in technology increases overall customer satisfaction and leads to efficient net surfing. Remember, your web browser will not work without a good internet connection, nor will it allow you to use any of its features.