Web App

A web app or web application is a program stored on an external server and offered via a web browser on the internet. Web services are, therefore, web apps and many but not all websites contain web apps.

Web applications can be developed for many applications and can be used by anyone from an organisation to an individual. Common applications of web apps include email, online calculators, and e-commerce shops.

How does a web app work?

You do not need to download web apps because they are accessible via the Internet. Users can use the app through a web browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and other supported browsers.

Web applications are usually written in a browser-supported language such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Client-side programming typically uses these languages, which help build the front end of an application. Server-side programming is done to create the scripts that a web app will use. This often involves using Python and Java.

To make a web app work, a web server, an application server, and a database are needed. Web servers manage the requests that come from a user while the application server performs the requested task. A database can be used to store the necessary information. In fact, the use is as follows:

1. The user submits a request to the web server via the internet.

2. The web server forwards this request to the correct web application server.

3. The web application server performs the requested task and then generates the results of the requested data.

4. The web application server sends results to the web server with the requested information or processed data.

5. The web server responds to the user with the requested information, which appears on the user's screen.

The advantages

Web apps are used for many different purposes, which brings many potential benefits. Some common benefits of web apps are:

• Web applications run on multiple platforms regardless of the OS or device as long as the browser is supported.

• A web app does not need to be downloaded.

• Web applications are (often) cheaper to develop than other types of apps.

• Web apps are updated immediately, avoiding the problem of users using different versions.

The disadvantages

Web apps also have some disadvantages: 

• Web apps are dependent on the internet. 

• Due to differences in browsers, the speed of a web app can be hindered. 

• Web apps cannot be found in the App Store or Google Play Store.

Examples of web applications

There are many beautiful examples of successful web apps available. Here is a short list of web apps:

• Canva

• Facebook

• Gmail

• Google Analytics

• Google Docs

• Microsoft office

• Netflix

• Spotify

• Trello

• WhatsApp

• Zoom