When you hear the word “app,” odds are you think of a little piece of software downloaded to your computer, smartphone, or tablet. A web application is the same, but you don’t have to download it.
That’s because web applications, or web apps, run inside your web browser and render on standard web pages. They’re available to any end-user with internet access and an up-to-date web browser like Safari, Firefox, Edge, or Google Chrome.
As a business owner, you might be curious about developing your own web app that can run on any computer or mobile device, across all operating systems. Here’s a primer on how common web applications work and their benefits.
What is a web application?
A web application, or web app, is a software application that runs on a web application server you can access over the internet via a browser. Unlike mobile apps, which are built for a specific mobile device operating system, a web app can run on any type of device because it utilizes web browsers, not a device’s operating system, to run.
Software companies often develop both a native app and a web app in tandem to offer a more comprehensive user experience. For instance, you can download the Google Docs app on your phone or access the Google Docs website on your laptop to take advantage of the same service. By offering both native and web apps, companies can cater to different user needs—native apps for those who prioritize performance and offline access, and web apps for those who value convenience and cross-device accessibility.
Web app vs. native app vs. hybrid app: What’s the difference?
These three types of apps share similarities but differ in key ways:
Web app
A web app is a dynamic, browser-based application that delivers a seamless, app-like experience across devices without requiring installation. Think Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word.
Accessible anytime, anywhere, web apps leverage web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to offer interactive features, real-time updates, and cross-platform compatibility. They’re ideal for users who want the convenience of accessing their favorite tools and services directly from a browser.
Native app
Native apps are software programs developed specifically for a specific operating system or device. These native mobile apps adhere to operating system standards and regulations.
On a traditional laptop or desktop computer, native apps take the form of familiar software programs such as Microsoft Word or Excel, Apple’s Pages or Numbers, or streaming services like Spotify. The same goes for mobile devices. You can check the app stores for both iOS and Android and find a native mobile app for just about everything.
Compared to web apps, which only run inside a browser, native apps tend to have greater functionality and more access to the device’s hardware. Web apps remain contained inside a web browser, and they have less access to your operating system as a result.
For example, a mobile app for finding and reviewing restaurants may be able to access your smartphone’s camera, GPS, and push notifications. A web app does not have direct access to these features and relies on browser permissions and APIs for similar functionality.
Hybrid app
Hybrid apps are mobile applications that combine elements of both native apps (built specifically for a particular operating system, like iOS or Android) and web apps (accessed through a browser and not installed on the device).
The main advantage of hybrid apps is that they can be built once and deployed across multiple platforms, saving time and resources. However, they may not perform as well as fully native apps, especially in terms of speed and responsiveness, because they rely on a browser-like environment to function within the native container.
How do web apps work?
Whether they run on traditional computers or mobile devices, web apps can function in modern browsers without the need for any additional programs. Here’s an overview of the web technology that makes this possible, both in terms of server-side and client-side scripts:
Server-side scripts
Server-side scripts run on a web server located in a data center. Users connect to these servers via the internet. Here’s how the process works:
1. Request handling. The process begins when a user interacts with a web app. For instance, they might click a button or scroll down a screen. When this happens, their browser sends a request to the web server. The server-side script receives this request and processes it.
2. Database interaction. The web server gets to work on the requested task, interacting with a database to retrieve, update, or delete data based on the user’s requests. For instance, the server could mine its database for content to show on the user’s display.
3. Guidance from a script. Before the server can generate a response, it must follow the rules of its script, written in server-side languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, or Node.js.
4. Response generation. The server then responds to the query, sending requested data, often in the form of an HTML page or JSON data.
5. Simultaneous security measures. While a web server works to perform tasks, it also takes security measures, including user authentication and authorization, data encryption, and session management. This helps minimize the risk of security breaches—for example, when online customers submit sensitive information via online forms.
Client-side scripts
While a server-side script is doing its work on a remote web server, a client-side script works on the user’s own computer or mobile device. That process looks like this:
1. User interface rendering. Client scripts—which are typically written in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS—must manage the web app’s layout, style, and interactive elements like buttons, forms, and menus to make the user interface (UI) navigable for users.
2. Event handling. When a user clicks a button, hits a keystroke, pinches a screen, or otherwise interfaces with a web app, a client-side script might trigger an action, such as displaying a pop-up message or updating a part of the page.
3. Asynchronous communication (AJAX). Client-side scripts use a technique called asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) to change the information displayed on a web page without reloading the entire page. This enables a smoother application performance because pages update without interrupting the user experience.
4. Client-side storage. A progressive web app can use client-side storage options (e.g., cookies) to store data on the user’s device. This data can include user preferences, session information, or temporary data needed for the app’s functionality. This lets the user access important data without sending constant requests to content management systems on remote servers.
Benefits of web apps
Web apps offer a lot of upside to business owners with respect to revenue, development costs, and user satisfaction. Here are common benefits found in most web applications:
Accessible
You can easily access web applications via a browser on any device with an internet connection. Unlike native apps, they do not require installation, so you can reduce barriers to entry and increase user engagement.
Cost-effective
Compared to native apps, web apps typically have short development cycles because they use common programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript rather than iOS or Android-specific syntax. This helps a business save money during the development process.
Easy to update
It’s easy to update web apps remotely, without users needing to download new versions of software. Not only is this convenient for users, but it also allows businesses to quickly respond to market changes and user feedback, bringing new functionality to apps as needed.
Secure
Many web apps are designed to handle secure transactions, such as online payments and personal data transfers. In fact, some of the most common types of web apps run on ecommerce checkout pages.
Thanks to robust encryption and security protocols, they guard requested information from hackers and online thieves. They also sit behind firewalls and have a built-in secure sockets layer (SSL) that native apps don’t, although the latter also have access to plenty of unique security measures as well.
Web application FAQ
What is an example of a web application?
The Google Workspace suite (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.) is an example of a web application. You can access these via web pages and they function across multiple platforms on both mobile and desktop devices.
Is a web application just a website?
No, web applications offer far more functionality than a simple website displaying static content. Web apps let computers rapidly exchange information with servers, and this powers everything from an ecommerce shopping cart to word processors and games.
What are hybrid apps?
A hybrid app combines web app technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) with native app capabilities. This allows them to run on multiple platforms (such as iOS and Android) with a single codebase. From a user perspective, it feels like the same version of the app regardless of what device they use. In other words, an iPhone user will have the exact same UX whether they access the app through a downloaded version of the code or by going to the website it’s hosted on.
