# Development

Web Application vs Website: Types and Real Examples

Red Rocket TeamOct 21, 20245 min read

Imagine that you have just decided to start your own business. It doesn't matter what exactly you will be doing to generate revenue - whether it is selling your own products and services or providing other assistance to customers. Today, to attract more customers and generate more revenue, you definitely need to have an online presence. That's why one of the first things you should think about when starting a business is what digital product to create for the company. Certainly, you might have immediately thought of a regular website. However, today, there is another option that many entrepreneurs forget about - web applications.

Don't you know what the key difference between websites and web applications is? You should understand more about these two digital products to make the ultimate choice for your company. You've come to the right place, as this article will tell you more about websites, the classification of web applications, the difference between them, and real examples. Web Application vs Website_ Types and Real Examples-min.jpg

Web Application vs Website_ Types and Real Examples-min.jpg

What are Web Applications?

If you are used to always working with websites, you may have this question «what is a web application». A web application is software that is accessed through a web browser on the World Wide Web. One significant difference between web apps and conventional desktop applications is that the former doesn’t require installation—users can access them and use them right from a browser on the Internet.

First of all, it is crucial to understand that, at first glance, web applications can be easily confused with websites. They have Web sites with text, graphics, videos, and other forms of media content. However, web apps are much more interactive in comparison. Websites are read-only devices that present information to the user, whereas web apps enable the user to do something and complete tasks.

For example, web applications include Gmail and Google Docs among other service-oriented apps. It is as simple as opening your browser, typing the website address of the tools you want to use and you are ready to go. There is no software to download or install on our website or on your computer system. These web apps enable real time sharing and editing of files without the use of desktop applications.

This is possible since most of the processing and data storage occurs on the remote websites hosting the apps. Synchronization occurs in the background, and your browser stands as the front-end or the functional interface to the internet protocols. This makes web applications easily accessible and usable from different devices and locations.

What is the Difference Between a Web App and a Website?

Many users have a basic understanding of the difference between websites and applications. Experienced programmers can tell where a website is and where a web application is with their eyes closed. Of course, we are joking, but in reality, there are many key differences. Yes, a browser can open both a website and an application. Here's the difference between the two:

(01)

Advanced authentication. When using a web application, the user can modify content, create content, upload or delete content, etc.
(02)

Complex functions. Conventionally simple functions are used for the site - sort products, put them in the cart, pay, etc. That is, these are the functions that are available on different CMS. For more complex functions, such as the ability to book a hotel or exchange messages, web applications based on frameworks are used.
(03)

Deployment. Making any changes to a website is fairly simple, whereas a web application requires full compilation and creation of new software.
(04)

Content consumers. On websites, all data is static and most often open to all visitors. A web application's interaction with users is more complex and is not fully possible without authentication.

The design of websites and web applications also differs. Web applications often focus on maximizing usability, with an emphasis on an intuitive interface. Whereas websites often aim for ease of information comprehension. We have two examples of how designs for a website and a web application should be designed today.

For example, a news agency website. A news agency website should be designed in such a way that users can easily find the latest news. This can be done by using a clear structure with headings, headings and filters. You can also use colorful images and videos to attract the attention of users.

For example, an e-commerce web application. This app should be easy to use and allow you to make purchases. This can be done by using an intuitive interface with large buttons and simple forms. You can also use design elements that encourage conversion, such as calls to action and product reviews.

We could go on for a very long time listing the differences between a website and a web app, so they are two very different digital products. Other differences between the two include accessibility, performance, download speed, updates and maintenance.

Types of Web Apps

Now you know what web apps are and how they differ from traditional websites in general. Just like any other software, web applications come in different types. Ready to learn more about the main types of web applications today? We've gathered information about six web app development types.

1. Single-page Application (SPA)

Single-page applications, or SPA (Single-Page web apps), are a type of web application that loads all the necessary resources on a single page. This means that when a user switches between different sections of the application, they do not see the page reload. Instead, SPA loads new data and displays it on the same page. The main advantage of SPA is the speed of operation. Since all data is loaded at once, the user does not have to wait for each individual page to load. In addition, SPA allows you to create more dynamic and interactive applications, as they can process events in real-time.

What examples of one-page web applications can we give you? In fact, each of you comes across such single-page applications on the web every day. Have you ever used the Netflix streaming service? This web application uses such a scheme that all the data is loaded on a single page.

2. Multi-page Application (MPA)

Despite the fact that such apps have the name multi-page ones, many people are used to calling them simply traditional apps. Why is that so? This is one of the most popular web app architecture types, similar to a regular website. When you move between sections of such applications, there is a complete page refresh. On the one hand, this principle of operation slows down the application because each section must be reloaded anew.

However, traditional web apps have some advantages. They are characterized by greater stability and reliability, as each page is loaded separately and independently from the others. This allows you to use different technologies and frameworks when developing each page, giving you more customization options. Another advantage of this type is the simplicity of proper SEO customization.

Finding an example of multiple page apps is very easy as most of the web applications choose this architecture. A prime example of a web app that uses multi page architecture is amazon. Every time you open a new product or go to your shopping cart, your browser loads a new page with unique content.

3. Progressive Web App (PWA)

When discussing progressive web apps, we mean something between SPA and MPA. In other words, we can safely call it a hybrid web app. Let us explain why this is so and how it works with a real example.

A hybrid web app means that you can use it through your browser and smartphone. For example, you can access a web app through a browser and then open the app on your phone. A progressive web app is usually a web application that does not require an internet connection and can work offline. Users cite this fact as the most important advantage of progressive web apps.

Progressive apps ensure that you get access in the fastest way possible since you don't have to go into a browser. All you have to do is to have the app installed on your smartphone beforehand. Just tap on the icon and the web app will open with the browser.

Are there good examples of progressive (hybrid) web applications today? Sure, almost every major corporation has implemented its products using such an architecture. For example, remember a separate product from Meta that allows you to communicate with other people. We are talking about the famous Facebook Messenger, which is used both for communicating with friends and employees. You can install this web application on your mobile gadget to access it faster.

4. Animated Web Application

Great visual effects and colorful animations allow entrepreneurs today to attract more customers. It is certainly better to visit a web application with moving pictures than to read a boring text. That's why animated web applications have become popular in recent years.

Interestingly enough, such web apps can be used in different niches - e-commerce, gaming and even healthcare apps. The peculiarity is that instead of the usual static pictures and boring text, dynamic animation is introduced here. This way, you can use your imagination 100% to create an interesting web application.

Perhaps, one of the most prominent examples of animated web applications we can name Miki Mottes. He is a private web designer who decided to get creative with his own web application. There you can read more about his work, find out his story and of course go to the store. Interestingly, this application uses a single-page architecture.

5. E-Commerce Web Application

It is important for online stores and other e-commerce businesses to achieve an optimal order rate. People usually opt for conventional websites for such purposes, but these days there is a better option - web application for e-commerce platforms.

Web applications can be a powerful tool for selling products and services online. For example, popular online stores such as Amazon and eBay provide customers with a user-friendly interface to search, select and purchase products. Of course, these web applications usually use multi-page architecture because they need to accommodate a lot of products and information.

In simple words, it is a regular online store that is very similar to a website. However, such e-commerce web applications usually have advanced functionality for the users. For example, some stores have implemented an augmented reality feature so that users can see how the thing will look in real life.

6. Static Web Application

A statistics web app is so-called because it is a one-way application. It means that it delivers content to clients but doesn't receive information from servers. These are simple applications that are very limited in functionality. On the other hand, their development will be very cheap and fast for developers.

It's simple - such platforms contain only statistical resources. They practically do not create a load on the server, so they work stably and never provoke large-scale failures in the system. Among the disadvantages of static apps is the difficulty of updating the platform and making any changes. It is impossible to manage the site without knowledge and skills in the field of web programming - this may entail additional costs when it is necessary to add new materials to the website, new sections, or categories.

7. Dynamic Web Apps

Unlike static, dynamic web applications are much more flexible to manage. They are a collection of text and graphics, markup language - just like static websites. However, you can easily change any element within them, and you don't need to know a programming language to do so.

Often, special content management systems - CMS - are used to create dynamic sites. CMS allows you to use ready-made program modules and components without having to create them from scratch every time. On the basis of one CMS, you can create any number of dynamic sites.

There are many more examples of dynamic web applications than static ones. This is due to the fact that static applications are not suitable for large projects that want to scale. Among the examples of dynamic apps, we can single out Facebook.

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Final thoughts

As you might have realized by now, web apps are a great alternative to traditional web sites for businesses. They are just as convenient for your potential customers because they don't have to download them and take up space on their device. Just open a browser and search for the desired web app, and the user gets access to a wide range of functionalities and advanced features.

In this article, we have told you about six web app development types. Of course, each type has its own differences and is suitable for different businesses. Imagine that you own an online sportswear store. In such a case, the best option would be to choose an e-commerce web app. One-page web apps are usually the choice of services created for effective communication between people and employees within a company.

Frequently asked questions

What tools and technologies are needed to build a web application?

It's no secret that web application development is different from website development. For example, JavaScript is used to develop many types of web applications. In addition, developers are also used to include such tools in the technology stack: Django, Microsoft .Net framework, and CodeIgniter.

What are the disadvantages of web apps?

Speaking about the disadvantages of web applications, we can initially note the higher investment. Developing such a digital product will usually cost you much more than a regular website. Another disadvantage is that web applications can rely on external services and APIs, which can be a potential cause of failures.

What to choose - a website or a web application?

Both websites and web applications have pros and cons. Which of these digital products to choose depends only on your specific goals. For example, if you are an e-commerce business, a website is the best choice. If your company's idea is to provide specialized services, such as a database, you should opt for a web application.