What is Web Application?

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A web application is an application, which runs on a browser and interacts with its users. These applications are interactive in nature and are different from a static website. With "interactive", I mean it allows user input through various mean and extracts data from other sources like a database or an XML file and shared with users.

Web applications are the most preferred applications in the online world today, since it allows users and companies to share valuable information in a more organized manner. Not only users, but the owner of the application also benefits from the user inputs of various kinds. These inputs can help the companies to overcome their short fall and improve their product and services.

To design and implement these applications, various tools and programming languages are used. Languages like Asp.Net, which runs remotely at the server, will process and extract data from a data storage that too resides at the server. In addition, languages like JavaScript and Ajax will display these data on the browser.

Pros

Example of a web application is the Google Drive app, which stores data at a remote location and helps users to manage their data in an organized manner. It is a very cheap and reliable alternative for users, since it will cut cost on hardware and other software installations charges.

Deploying these applications is hassle free since they run on browsers and there is no need to install these applications on every user’s desk. Users do not have worry about new updates. All the updates are at the server level and distributed automatically around the world as long as you use internet.

Most web applications are platform independent (responsive applications) that runs on various devices like a Mobile phone. Writing these applications, using common programming languages make them independent of any browser on any device.

Cons

Modern web applications rely on modern browsers. Therefore, users have to upgrade their browsers to keep up with changing apps. In addition, they will have to make sure that their data is safe and not compromised at any cost.

The risk of losing valuable data can sometimes deter the user from taking advantage of web applications. No matter how secure and reliable the host is, there have been instances where users have lost data.

There is a constant effort to make these applications reliable and user friendly. However, it increases the cost of keeping and maintaining the server and its resources. Over the times, web applications have become more expensive than desktop applications. To manage these expensive applications and server resources, user pays a monthly fee, so they use the services uninterrupted.

These applications also rely on the speed of internet service to transfer data from a remote server to the client. A slow internet service can ruin the day for the user and might think of an alternative like a desktop application.

Conclusion

Whatever be the reason, web applications have taken the online world by storms and it looks unstoppable now. Though they have certain limitations, it is the most preferred way of transferring and managing data online today. Cloud computing is the future and looks bright.

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