If you’re someone who’s had some experience running a website, then chances are you have run into the term web application. Web applications aren’t just a trendy buzzword, they are an essential piece of technology meant to tailor to a specific business model. So, what exactly are web applications, how do they differ from websites, and is a web application the right fit for your business? By the end of this article you’ll be able to easily answer all of these questions. Let’s get into it.
Definition
A web application is a website that is built around creating an interactive user experience. When I say interactive, I mean that the web page has elements on it that the user can click and manipulate. Take for example an eCommerce site. The user can sign in, change their personal information details, add and subtract items from a cart, and then purchase items from that cart. An eCommerce site also provides interaction for the admin user, because they can add and take away items from their store, manage orders, and communicate with customers.
The result of this interaction, is a dynamic website: a website whose content can be altered by a user even after its been uploaded to the Internet. How can this be done? Easy, databases. A database is connected to the website, and will feed its content to the website. A database's content can be setup and altered before and even after a website has gone live, thus affecting what is seen by the user, hence the term "dynamic". This is very different from a “normal” website, especially in the traditional sense.
Websites when they first appeared were traditionally static, as in once the website was uploaded to the server, it couldn’t be changed in any way unless it was re-uploaded again with the changes you wanted to make. As you can imagine, this makes running a blog very tedious, and running an eCommerce site pretty much impossible. Thankfully over time, websites started becoming more and more dynamic, where today, it’s pretty much impossible to find a website that doesn’t have at least some dynamic and interactive properties to it.
The Difference
While a website can also be dynamic and interactive, it differs from a web application in the purpose of that dynamicism and interactivity. A website’s primary purpose is to inform people about the services that a business offers. Any interactive elements on the web page are there so as to connect the business to the visitor of the website more easily. Items such as a contact form, hamburger menu on a mobile phone, and a Google map widget are examples of this interactivity for connectivity paradigm.
While web applications also need to have informative content, their primary purpose is provide an interactive environment for the user, because the website effectively is the service and the product. A web applications interactivity and dynamicism is almost entirely dependent about a database, which will affect the content that can be rendered on to the website at any given time.
In short, a website’s most important content is it’s text (because text informs), whereas a web application’s most important content is it’s features (because features create an interactive user experience).
Which One is Best for Your Business?
Based on the material that has been presented thus far, which one do you think is more applicable for your business model; a website or a web application? Ask yourself: Does my business need an online store, a blog, or a way for users to create an account and upload media? If the answer is no, then great, you’re going to be the proud owner of an awesome website! Even if you only decide to set up a blog, you can still fall into more website than web application territory, because the blog will be an informative supplement to your business (much like this blog for example). A comment section may not be necessary (thus avoiding the need for a public login system), and any admin pages will be hidden from the public view.
Whether you decide on a website or a web application, it’s always best to consult with a professional to ensure that all of your business’ needs will be addressed and met. At Random Forest Web, we love working with our clients, and would love to make your website or web application a reality. Don’t hesitate to reach out and book a free consultation today!
