Having first emerged in earnest during the late-1990s web applications have transformed the way in which people interact with the Internet. But, what exactly are they? And, what do you need to know if you intend to develop a web application? Discover everything you need to know in this in-depth guide.
What is a web application?
When it comes to learning about a topic or concept, it’s always good to begin with a solid definition.
What exactly is a web application? Is there an agreed upon definition used by developers and others?
Well, if we turn to the Encyclopedia Britannica – that lexicographical authority par excellence – we find that a web application is defined as follows:
‘Web application, computer program stored on a remote server and run by its users via a web browser. A web application is an advantageous form of software because the use of browsers allows the application to be compatible with most standard computers and operating systems. Moreover, the application does not take up memory on a computer’s hard drive and is accessible from nearly any computer or device a person might use. Multiple users can even use the same application at the same time, allowing for multiple simultaneous participation. Although web applications always require a network connection, this limitation has lessened in importance as the Internet has become more ubiquitous’.
We’re sure you’ll agree that that is quite an in-depth definition.
It perhaps requires some context, however.
Traditionally, application software would come in the form of physical media (e.g. pre-loaded onto a floppy disk or CD-ROM). The application would then be installed locally on your computer.
Want to use that particular application? Then you’d need to boot up that particular computer and launch the application. The application would then open in its own dedicated window.
Web applications completely changed the way in which applications are accessed and used (especially when compared to the aforementioned traditional application software).
As the name suggests, a web application is an application which is hosted on the Internet and accessed via a web browser. They are literally applications, but ones that are used within a web browser. In essence web apps are basically highly-interactive web pages that behave like complex software applications.
Because of their flexible and accessible nature, web applications can be used by both individuals and teams. The way in which they can be used can be summarised by the acronym ‘CRUD’. It stands for create, read, update, and delete, and effectively provides a framework for what a web application should allow a user (or team of users) to do.
It’s also important to note that web applications will usually have a login mechanism – this is to prevent unauthorised use (especially where web applications are based on a subscription payment model). Naturally, login mechanisms are also essential for user privacy and data protection.
The importance of web application development
Even if you only have a passing familiarity with web apps, you’re probably aware that they play a significant role in the lives of Internet users across the world.
In fact, when you consider that almost everyone now uses a web-based email client (e.g. Gmail), you can understand just how pervasive this software format is.
And, it’s only going to get more important.
According to research by Statista, the UK market value of web app development is set to reach £8.34bn by 2025. The global market value of web app development is expected to reach $195.8bn by 2025.
Those are not only some staggeringly large numbers, but they provide an insight into the economic value of web app development. And, it’s a buoyant market which is enticing more and more companies like yours to launch their own web solutions for their customers.
Are web applications the same as websites? What’s the difference?
It’s a common misconception that web applications and websites are essentially the same thing.
They’re both used within a web browser; aren’t they just the same?
The answer is somewhat nuanced – and is measured at least partially on the concept of CRUD that we discussed above.
Web applications allow users to engage in CRUD – creation, reading, updating, and deletion. They allow a considerable amount of input. As the examples below demonstrate, you can spend hours at a time within a web application creating work or editing something (e.g. Google Docs or Mailchimp).
Websites, on the other hand, are defined by the output.
They are less interactive, and focused instead on providing information. They are generally more ‘static’ as well. To provide an example, think of newspaper websites. These normally have minimal interactive elements and instead try to convey information in the clearest way possible.
The table below sets out the key differences between web applications and websites:
| Web Application | Website | |
| Purpose | To provide interactive functionality and/or tools to a user | To deliver information or content in an appealing and accessible way |
| Interactivity | Highly interactive; allowing users to perform certain actions, receive responses and other tasks | Limited interactivity. Users are able to click some links or videos at most |
| Functionality | Web apps typically offer a large array of functions. These can include data processing, user authentication and real-time updates | Websites focus primarily on presenting information. What functions do exist tend to be basic e.g. navigation |
| Examples | Google Docs, e-commerce platforms like Shopify etc | News and media websites, blogs, company brochure sites etc |
| Technology | Web apps will typically use an array of frameworks, server-side languages and databases | Websites will be more basic, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on a limited basis |
| Installation | Web apps do not require installation onto local hardware | Websites do not require installation onto local hardware |
| Updates | Updates to web apps are normally taken care of by the app provider and pushed live automatically | Updates to websites may require users to clear their browser cache etc |
| User engagement | Web apps provide maximal user engagement | User engagement focuses less on interaction and more on the passive consumption of content |
TL;DR – yes, whilst web apps and websites have some similarities, they are distinct and different.
Popular examples of web applications
So, web applications are software applications that tend to be hosted in the cloud and accessed by users via their Internet browsers. Got it.
However, you’re probably now wondering if there are any popular examples of web apps in common usage? Well, the answer is yes. There are countless web applications used by millions (even billions) of people each day across the globe.
Below, we’ve set out some of the most popular and common web applications.
Gmail
If you’ve ever used Google’s Gmail, then you’ve used a web app. In fact, as we wrote recently, Gmail is one of the earliest – and most widely adopted – web apps, having first launched in April 2004.
It was arguably the first web-app based email client and certainly ushered in a new era, where you no longer had to rely on a locally-installed email client like Microsoft Outlook to manage your emails.
Google Docs
Another uber-popular web application, Google Docs did for word processing what Gmail did for email clients.
Released in March 2006, Google Docs allows users to create and edit documents via their web browser. Provided you have an Internet connection, these documents can be accessed anywhere from any device (provided you have your login credentials handy).
With an estimated one billion users per month, Google Docs has transformed the way in which many people write and edit their documents, freeing people from the need to download and install traditional word processing software.
Mailchimp
When it comes to marketing automation platforms, you can’t really find a brand that’s more recognisable than Mailchimp.
First launched in 2001, Mailchimp is a web application that allows users to set up and send various email flows, campaigns, and other automations straight from their Internet browser.
Thanks to its browser-based nature, Mailchimp frees users from having to download and install a dedicated piece of software on their computer. It also has many of the other classic benefits that are associated with SaaS applications.
Notion
A perhaps less well known example of a web application is Notion.
An all-in-one note-taking and collaboration app, Notion was launched in 2016 as a web application firmly targeted at business and enterprise customers.
Although primarily a web application, Notion can be downloaded as a desktop application for macOS and Windows. However, these desktop apps are essentially ‘wrappers’ around the web app.
Airtable
A cloud-based web app that allows users to create and share relational databases, Airtable is effectively a spreadsheet/database hybrid application.
Like many other web apps, Airtable has multiple possible integrations including with other web apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Jira.
Salesforce
One of the world’s biggest CRM (customer relationship management) tools, Salesforce is a web app that has significant market penetration in the world of business and enterprise.
The core of the Salesforce platform – as well as its primary interface – is accessed through a web browser (although it is possible to download mobile and desktop apps).
Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that allows users to conduct a variety of accounting-based tasks like issuing invoices, track expenses, and maintaining payroll all through a web browser.
Like other web apps, Xero sells itself on the fact that it can be accessed almost anywhere, on any device, with collaboration being facilitated with ease.
A short history of web applications
When you look back at the lengths people used to go to to install and run software (e.g. going out and buying a program on a disk, spending time installing it on their local hardware, configuring and updating the software), it’s no surprise that web apps – with their attendant ease of use – have become so roaringly successful.
But, when exactly did they first emerge? And, how did they develop?
The story begins in the late 1990s – a time when the majority of web pages on the Internet were little more than static HTML web pages (perhaps with a bit of CSS thrown in if the website owner was feeling fancy).
These static web pages generally did their jobs well – keeping people informed, or helping businesses to promote their products and services.
But, they were just a little… boring.
The impetus to make web pages a bit more… interesting resulted in the development of JavaScript in 1995, a client-side scripting language that allowed various interactive elements to be injected into web pages.
The actual concept of a ‘web application’ was introduced in the Java language in the Servlet Specification version 2.2. (an important milestone in the history of Java web development).
At the risk of oversimplifying things, these developments allowed sites to make their client-sides far more interactive. In essence, web page scripts could contact the server for storing/retrieving data without downloading an entire web page – a practice that would become known as Ajax in 2005.
Some of the earliest websites to make use of advanced client-side interactive features included MySpace, Digg, and Google Maps.
As the years progressed, the capabilities of browsers advanced which opened up new opportunities for web application development. One of the highest profile of these efforts was the introduction of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) in 2015.
Developed by Alex Russell and Frances Berrman, Progressive Web Applications are web apps that have the same features as the native application. To put it another way, they are web apps that – in addition to being used within a browser – can also be installed locally on a device as a standalone application.
Today, web applications are one of the dominant forms of software application – finding use in a multiplicity of private, governmental, and NGO settings.
How do web applications work?
So, how exactly do web applications work? In what form are they structured?
Well, let’s begin with the structure of web applications. As you can imagine, compared to traditional application software, web applications are somewhat more complex.
Whilst your traditional application that’s installed on your local computer will be ‘single tiered’, the typical web app will be multi-tiered, making use of the user’s web browser, a web server, and an application server.
This three-tier architecture will consist of:
- A front-end web server that serves content to the user’s browser. This content will largely be static, but there may be some cached dynamic content present, too.
- An application server. The application server will host the application itself and will pass instructions via a communications protocol. Application servers will often use web application frameworks that provide a structure that ‘sits around’ the application. Examples of web application frameworks include; Symfony, Spring, ASP.NET, Node.js etc.
- A back-end database – where both data sets and database management system software are held.
Okay, that’s the theoretical manner in which web applications are supposed to work. How do they work in practice?
Let’s take a look at a step-by-step example:
- You sit down at your laptop and open up your Internet browser. You click on that handy bookmark within Chrome for your favourite web app (let’s call it MurveySonkey).
- The act of clicking on that bookmarked hyperlink sends a request over the Internet to the app’s web server. It’s highly likely that this request will pass through various security measures. These security measures can include firewalls, bot management tools, DDoS protection, and SSL/TLS encryption.
- Once the request has arrived at the front-end web server the server will forward it to the application server.
- The application server will process the request (for example, the request could be a database query) and generate a result.
- The result will then be sent by the application server back to the front-end web server. The front-end server will, in turn, present the result to the user on their web browser.
In some ways, it’s a remarkably simple process. Yes, it requires more infrastructure than a single-tier, locally-installed software application, but it provides (as we will soon see) many benefits to users.
Note – web applications are sometimes also described as having a ‘client-server software architecture pattern’. This pattern is subdivided into a presentation tier (the browser), an application tier (the application server running an engine using dynamic web content technology), and the storage tier (that refers to database stores data and determines the structure of a user interface).
Ultimately, web applications can be developed with relatively short development lifecycles – however, they do require proper collaboration and coordination between front-end and back-end developers.
As you’ll have read above, the creation of web applications also requires the use of various web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML 5, and CSS, as well as back-end technologies such as Java, .NET, or Python.
How are web applications developed?
We’ve seen the way in which web applications operate – typically using a multi-tiered architecture to provide a seamless, enjoyable end-user experience.
But, how are web applications actually developed in the first place?
Below, we’ve set out the key steps that are involved in web application development.
Requirement gathering
The development of a web application starts with a ‘requirement gathering’ process.
This process is fundamental to a web app dev project. It provides the foundation upon which all else is built.
How this process is run depends on the dev agency involved, however it’s not uncommon for the requirement gathering process to involve discussions, interviews with key client stakeholders, focus groups, and surveys of staff or potential users.
Correctly done, this process should result in a clear understanding of the functionalities and features that the web app should have.
Planning and design
The second step in a web app development lifecycle is planning and design.
The planning stage should see the dev agency creating a project roadmap. This roadmap should include a timeline, the required resources, and key deliverables.
Next we come to the part that is usually the most enjoyable (and important) for clients – design.
This stage will see the creation of the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) i.e. the parts of the web app that the user(s) will actually interact with.
Multiple rounds of design are typically undertaken, with the creation of wireframes, prototypes and mock-ups being part of this process.
In many cases, the design stage will also see work being done on the design of database schemas, system diagrams, user flows, data flows and more.
Front-end development
Now, it’s time to bring that final agreed-upon design to life.
This is where the client-side of the application is developed and built. This will typically involve a team of front-end devs employing HTML, CSS and high-level scripting languages like JavaScript to create a functioning front end for the web app.
In other words – they take the design and turn it into an interactive, functional web interface.
At this stage, front-end libraries and frameworks are also incorporated (as needed).
Back-end development
This next stage is often ‘invisible’ to the client, but is one of the most critical, as it creates the server-side framework, database, and logic that allows the web application to properly function.
APIs (RESTful or GraphQL, for example) will also be incorporated to allow data flows between the different tiers of the app.
Typical languages used in the back end development of web applications include Node.js with Express, Ruby on Rails, Python etc.
Database development
Now we come to the ‘brain’ of a web app – the database.
This stage will see the devs create a database schema based on the application’s requirements (as established during the requirement gathering phase). At this point, it should have been established exactly what needs to be stored in the database – as well as the various forms/types that the data will take.
A database management system (such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB) will be selected and set up to establish the app’s database.
The devs will, at this stage, implement various data storage, retrieval, and manipulation operations to ensure the data can be properly retrieved and used by the application.
Third-party integration
If your web application is going to be using third-party apps, then it’s at this stage that they’ll be integrated.
Examples of third-party integrations for web applications include libraries and APIs (e.g. payment gateways, geolocation services and other features).
QA and testing
Now’s the time to test it all and ensure the web app is functioning properly and adhering to the key deliverables (as set out in the requirement gathering phase).
High-quality dev agencies will carry out various levels of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing and UAT (user acceptance testing).
The web app should also be tested across myriad devices and browsers to ensure proper functionality in a variety of environments. Naturally, this stage should also see bugs identified and fixed so that a smooth, well-functioning web app can be launched and rolled out to users.
Deployment
Okay, it’s go time.
The web application – having been thoroughly tested – will be deployed to a production environment (this production environment will take the form of a web server, cloud platform, or hosting service – or a mix – depending on the exact infrastructure requirements of the app).
This stage of the development lifecycle will also see various routine tasks completed such as the configuration of server settings, the establishment of the domain name, setting up security measures (e.g. SSL certificates) and the set-up of monitoring and error tracking tools. The latter are especially important as they help to track the app’s stability.
Maintenance
Launching a new web app isn’t the end of the story. There’s also the need to carry out periodic maintenance.
Ongoing checks should include monitoring uptime, security, and obtaining and acting upon user feedback.
Ongoing maintenance tasks should include fixing bugs as and when they arise, implementing security patches, and rolling out new features (or enhancements to existing features).
If the app is seeing growing (or conversely declining) demand, then this ongoing maintenance should include appropriate scaling work e.g. increasing or decreasing hosting capacity etc.
Documentation and training
If your web application is going to do anything beyond the mundane (such as marketing automation), then you’ll also want to consider creating documentation.
This documentation can span everything from FAQs and instruction manuals through to step-by-step videos and interactive tutorials.
Whilst the creation of documentation may not seem like the most exciting task in the world, it can have tangible benefits. Most importantly, good documentation can help users get the most out of your web application – increasing engagement, loyalty and retention.
Post-launch marketing and improvements
A web application is only worth creating if people are actually going to use it.
So, whilst not technically part of the development process, you should factor in marketing activities once your app has launched. You may wish to employ the services of a dedicated digital marketing agency to help attract users and drive sign-ups to your app.
Another important post-launch task is to gather user feedback and to monitor analytics. Gathering this data is likely to provide you with some valuable insights that can be used to implement improvements to your app in the future. Making these improvements can not only help retain existing users, but attract new ones as well.
In conclusion, these are the key steps that are involved in the development of an effective, popular, well-thought-out web application.
What programming languages are used to develop web applications?
Now that we’ve seen how web applications function, and the steps that are involved in their development, it’s time to get ‘under the hood’ and see what tools are used to build them.
Below, we’ve outlined the key programming languages that are used to create modern web apps.
JavaScript
Perhaps fittingly (given how web applications came about in the first place), JavaScript is one of the key – and most popular – languages that is used to build web applications.
As you’ll see below, JavaScript can be used in both front-end and back-end contexts:
- Front-end: on the front-end JavaScript is used alongside HTML and CSS to create interactive and dynamic web interfaces (e.g. drop-down menus, concertinas etc). JavaScript front-end frameworks include React, Angular, and Vue.js.
- Back-end: used in conjunction with Node.js JavaScript can be used in the back-end to ensure a consistent language is used throughout the web app’s tech stack.
Python
Renowned for its simplicity and readability, Python has, in recent years, become a popular language within web app development.
Like JavaScript, Python finds uses in both front-end and back-end contexts:
- Front-end: Python is occasionally used within full-stack development, (using libraries like React or Django’s built-in templating engine) to power both the front-end and back-end of a web app.
- Back-end: used with frameworks like Django and Flask, Python finds use in the back-ends of many web apps.
Ruby
Used for back-end dev purposes, Ruby (and the Ruby on Rails framework) is known for its developer-friendly syntax. As such, it can be used to accelerate development of web apps.
Java
Another language used for back-end purposes, Java is a highly-robust and scalable programming language. It can be found used in enterprise-level applications in conjunction with frameworks such as Spring and JavaServer Faces (JSF).
PHP
Many web applications make use of PHP within the back end. PHP is typically used with the Laravel or Symfony frameworks.
C# / ASP.NET
C# is routinely used for back-end development purposes in conjunction with the ASP.NET framework. C# has been especially popular for building Windows-based applications.
Rust
Another back-end programming language, Rust has become popular for building web applications that need to have stringent security protocols in place.
TypeScript
TypeScript is used as a front-end programming language (in conjunction with frameworks like Angular) to enhance code quality and maintainability.
Which language (or combination of languages) is best for your particular web application project will be determined by what you need the app to do, the type of data it will be handling and more. All these points should be established during the requirement gathering phase of a development project.
What web application frameworks are used to develop web applications?
It’s not just individual programming languages that are used to build web apps, but frameworks, too.
Why? Because development frameworks provide a structured and organised way to build web apps, with pre-built components, libraries, tools and other features that make the development process easier and quicker.
For example, frameworks can include things like Model-View-Controllers (MVCs) which organise code into logical components – thus making the code easier to manage and maintain.
Frameworks can also automate common dev tasks e.g. generating dynamic HTML pages by combining templates with data.
Front-end frameworks/libraries
Below, you’ll find details of the most-common front-end frameworks and/or libraries.
React (JavaScript)
React is the JavaScript framework that has a focus on component-based architecture. It is especially suited for building user interfaces (UI) and can be used on large-scale web projects.
Vue
Vue is widely considered to be a progressive JavaScript framework that is smaller in size and easier to learn than React.
As it is ‘progressive’, Vue is ‘incrementally adoptable’, meaning that it can be used for small parts of a project. Vue also uses a component-based architecture with each component containing its own logic and data, making apps easier to manage and maintain.
Angular (TypeScript)
Developed by Google, Angular is a front-end JavaScript framework that provides a complete solution for front-end projects. It is particularly suited to building large, complex (even enterprise) applications.
Note – front-end frameworks aren’t really frameworks per se, but simply represent the view layer of a web application.
As with the programming languages that are used on a project, the choice of front-end framework (or view layer) will be determined by what you need your web application to accomplish and the features that are needed to that end.
Backend frameworks
As you’re about to read, there are a considerable number of back-end frameworks to choose from. Below, you’ll find the frameworks that we have most commonly seen used in web app dev projects.
Rails
Ruby on Rails (often just ‘Rails’), is a web application framework that has an emphasis on convention over configuration – what does this mean? Essentially, it makes assumptions regarding what you’re trying to achieve – resulting in rapid app development.
Ruby is particularly well suited for the building of web applications that involve databases and logic.
Django
The Django framework uses the model-view-template (MVT) architectural pattern that allows you to separate your application into three distinct parts. As a full-featured framework, Django is packed with tools and features that can accelerate application development.
Laravel
Laravel is an open-source PHP framework that has found considerable popularity. It features a model-view-controller (MVC) architecture and has a particularly elegant syntax.
With strong community support and plenty of features, Laravel is used to build a variety of web applications including e-commerce stores, content management systems, and custom web apps.
ASP.NET
Developed by Microsoft, ASP.NET is a framework that is especially suited to building dynamic web applications. It allows devs to use languages like C# and includes various libraries and tools to make the dev process as quick as possible.
Spring Boot (Java)
Spring Boot is a Java-based framework that essentially focuses on simplifying the configuration and setup process. This allows developers to spend more of their time coding.
NestJS (Node.js/TypeScript)
A progressive Node.js framework, NestJS allows the efficient and accurate build of server-side applications. Designed to be scalable, NestJS is ideal for larger, more complex web app projects and is also supported by a large community.
NestJS also provides a number of tools and features that can improve developer productivity.
Express.js (Node.js)
Express.js is a flexible Node.js based framework that is particularly easy to learn and use (especially if you are already familiar with JavaScript and Node.js). It is well suited for the development of web applications and is supported by a large community of developers.
What skills should a web application developer possess?
When it comes to choosing a developer for your web application project, it’s important that you make the right choice. After all, you’re potentially about to pour considerable hours and capital into the project – you need it to pay off.
So, what skills should you be looking for in a web application developer? Contrary to what you may think, you shouldn’t be looking for technical, quantitative skills alone. Let’s take a look…
User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design experience
Yes, it’s important that the back end of your website is technically correct. And, it’s also important that your web app’s database is correctly set up.
But, arguably the most important thing to get right for your web app is the UI and UX.
Get these things wrong, and you’ll a) not get any users in the first place, or b) lose existing users over time.
Your web app has to be intuitive, easy to use – even enjoyable!
That’s why you should really interrogate any potential web app developer about their experience with the creation of user interfaces and optimising user experience.
Apps must be optimised for all types of devices – from desktops and mobiles to smartphones (and even smart TVs).
Further, your web app must be accessible with as few barriers to usage as possible.
Programming languages
As we saw above, it’s important that your chosen web app developer is proficient and fluent in the most popular programming and scripting languages.
Both on a front-end and back-end basis, familiarity and experience of writing in these languages will ensure that your project proceeds smoothly and is not delayed by an unfamiliarity of a language.
Analytical skills and product discovery
Your chosen agency should possess strong analytical skills and be able to assist with product discovery – the process whereby you are able to assess and discover exactly what you need your web application to do.
At the end of the product discovery process your chosen dev agency should be able to provide you with a series of key deliverables such as:
- Business analysis:
- Business requirements document.
- Functional requirements.
- Non-functional requirements.
- Epics and user stories.
- Process flow diagrams.
- UX/UI design:
- Moodboard and UI concept.
- Wireframes (low/high fidelity).
- Clickable prototypes.
- Finalised UI kit.
- Solution architecture:
- Technical stack.
- High-level architecture diagram.
- Architecture decisions report.
- Entity relationship diagram (ERD).
- Third-party APIs analysis.
- Project management:
- Work breakdown structure.
- Team composition.
- Cost estimate.
- Development plan.
- Future product roadmap.
If your chosen dev agency is unable to provide you with these things, and they can’t demonstrate an acute analytical ability, walk away!
Knowledge of SEO best practices
Given that web apps are on the web, it’s imperative that people are able to find yours.
So, your chosen web developer should be able to demonstrate an understanding of SEO best practices. These include a good grasp of Google Search Essentials, and the necessary search and analytics tools (GA4, GSC etc) that should be installed so you can effectively optimise the traffic to your web app.
Version control
It’s important that the web developer you select is able to demonstrate strong version control principles. This will ensure that your web app is deployed correctly (for example, improper version control could lead to an older, buggy version of the app accidentally being deployed to a live environment).
Communication
This is one of the less-technical ‘soft’ skills that’s important to look for in a web app developer.
Your chosen web app dev agency should have dedicated project managers who ‘own’ the project and keep you updated on project progress against the initially agreed key deliverables.
Best practices for web app development
Did you know you can give your web app a competitive edge by ensuring it is designed by a vendor that follows web app development best practices?
Sure, there are plenty of vendors out there that can build and launch a web app, but there are multiple nuances that only the very best development agencies understand.
You’re almost certainly now wondering what those best practices are. Well, GoodCore is here to tell you:
- Plan and design: you should never just charge into a web app development project. Instead, you should have a clear plan and have created your app’s architecture, user experience and user interface before you begin work.
- Write clean code: ensure that all code is written according to the correct standards and can be easily maintained.
- Use a responsive design: remember that your web app is going to be viewed on devices other than desktops. Ensure that your web app has a responsive design and offers a premium experience on all screen sizes. CSS frameworks like Bootstrap are particularly helpful in creating mobile-friendly web apps.
- Optimise for performance: you want your app to load quickly, be fast, and smooth to use. Use caching techniques, compression of file sizes, appropriate content loading techniques and more to achieve this.
- Security: your web app should make use of security best practices. These include input validation, authentication, and the use of HTTPS etc.
- Extensive testing: this should include tests across different browsers (and different underlying browser source codes e.g. Chromium, Gecko, WebKit etc).
- Hardware testing: your web app should also be tested on actual hardware (not just in a virtual environment). This can flag up unexpected bugs/issues.
- Accessibility: you want your web app to be accessible to everyone. So, ensure that your chosen developer follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This can involve using semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility.
- SEO: as we mentioned earlier, you want users to be able to find your web app. So things like meta tags and descriptions should be present (and optimised for appropriate keywords), and pages being indexable etc.
- Regular backups: regular backups of your web app’s codebase are an absolutely essential best practice. This can prevent data loss and also provide you with a recovery option in the event of a failure.
- Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD): by integrating CI/CD pipelines, you can automate a great deal of testing and deployment. This can facilitate more frequent and reliable releases.
- Monitoring and analysis: you should be provided with suitable tools to allow you to monitor and analyse the usage of your web app. This can help you make data-driven improvements to your app in the future.
- Documentation and training: your agency should provide you with detailed documentation about the operation, functions, and features of your web app. They should also provide your team with necessary training.
These are the best practices that we employ here at GoodCore which ensures we have a roster of incredibly satisfied and happy clients!
The challenges of web applications
As you’ll read shortly, web applications are packed with tangible benefits for companies that pursue them. However, in the spirit of transparency, there are a number of challenges that can occasionally be associated with web apps.
Reliance on Internet access
One of the strengths of web apps can also be their weakness. In short, users typically need a stable, reliable Internet connection in order to enjoy the full functionality of the app.
This isn’t bad per se – especially given that Internet access is near enough ubiquitous these days – but it’s something to bear in mind before you pursue a web app development project.
Note – many web apps (Google’s Workspace apps being a prime example) include an option to ‘work offline’, which means you can still interact with the app even if you don’t have a live Internet connection.
Functional limitations
Web apps – like other types of apps – do sometimes have functional limitations. Traditionally, these limitations involve things like a web app not being able to turn on and use your device’s camera.
However, as browsers have advanced many of these limitations have been largely overcome.
The reality is that there’s usually a way to achieve any functionality with a web app – it just may involve a little more work or a slightly more complex solution.
What are the benefits of web applications?
Okay, we’ve mentioned several times so far that web applications have multiple benefits. It’s clearly time to show our work, then. Below, we’ve set out the most tangible benefits of web applications.
Fast deployment
If you’re a company that’s intending to launch a new application, it’s likely you’re going to want to get said application to market as soon as possible (and get those all-important revenues rolling in).
Web apps allow you to achieve exactly that.
How?
Well, consider how the deployment of web apps compares to the deployment of other types of software.
Imagine you want to create a native mobile app – you’ll need to ship it to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (which can involve navigating numerous barriers and hurdles). You’ll also need to use a number of proprietary frameworks such as Xamarin or PlayKit.
Similarly, if you were to deploy a native desktop app, you’d need to physically install and test it on a series of user computers. Imagine the amount of work involved in that…
Web apps on the other hand can be launched and put in front of live users with a simple URL.
Ease of access
By their very nature, web applications can be accessed almost anywhere.
All you need is a connection to the Internet and a device that is capable of running a browser.
This makes web applications ideal for a variety of contexts – from large enterprises where employees don’t have a dedicated computer terminal to workplaces where employees may use multiple devices throughout the day (e.g. a laptop, tablet, and smartphone).
Note – if you are concerned about multi-device usage of your web app, it’s generally possible to add in measures to prevent this.
A note on global accessibility
We’d just like to mention that web applications can be particularly useful for businesses with international operations.
Given that access to a web app can be as simple as an Internet connection and web browser, web applications can be the perfect solution if you have customers in different countries.
Eliminates hardware/compatibility issues
Closely related to the point above, web apps are more accessible in the sense that they eliminate hardware/compatibility issues.
What do we mean?
Well, if you’re old enough, you probably remember the anxiety that came with buying a traditional piece of software.
You’d walk into your local computer store and pick up a piece of software. You’d then proceed to spend many minutes scrutinising the specification to see if your computer had enough RAM, an appropriate CPU, or sufficient storage to accommodate the software.
Get it wrong, and you’d end up with a piece of software that you can’t use.
Web apps on the other hand simply require your device to be capable of running a modern browser – and almost every device these days can do that!
Convenience
There’s no getting away from the fact that web applications are just so much easier to use.
Need to send an email campaign? Just login to Mailchimp. Are you required to write some documentation? Then just login to Google Docs.
Just open a browser window, click the link to the web app, and you’re good to go.
Compare this to locally-installed, single-tier applications. You need to actually install the software in the first instance. You’ll then need to periodically update it with security patches and other upgrades.
Plus, locally-installed apps don’t always allow you to benefit from cloud storage and easy file sharing and collaboration compared to web apps.
In short, web apps remove headaches for both users and developers.
Lower development costs
Web applications also have the benefit of generally lower development costs compared to other software formats.
Why?
Because, web app development requires much less custom work than other types of work. Further, web apps typically rely on a suite of well-established programming languages and frameworks.
Web app development also typically avoids the need for developers to allocate extra resources to learning proprietary frameworks or creating local installation packages as can be the case with traditional applications.
Whilst these benefits sound like they only apply to developers, they can benefit end users in the form of lower monthly subscription fees.
Here at GoodCore, we expect to see the cost of web app development drop even further in the future as low-code tools and AI coding assistants help to speed up development.
Growth and scalability
Web applications can be scaled in a way which is unmatched by other application formats.
Want to reach more customers? You can simply scale up your infrastructure resources (e.g. AWS hosting) and allow even more people to use your app via their browser.
Want to reach customers in new countries? Then all you need to do is scale your marketing efforts and make people aware of your app.
Compare this to creating a native desktop application. If you want to scale that, you’ll need to consider how it can be developed for other operating systems and chip architecture. You’ll also need to think about how the app can be purchased and downloaded in various territories/regions.
Web applications are the easiest way to scale and grow a piece of software.
Enhanced user experience
Well-designed and developed web applications can provide an unrivalled user experience.
Think of it like this; being browser-based, it’s possible for you to make iterative changes to your app over time.
You can run CRO, UX, and UI tests incrementally improving your web app – resulting in increased user engagement, satisfaction and loyalty.
This is far harder to do with other software formats. For example, rolling out updates to natively installed desktop apps can be a complex and burdensome task – especially for end users who are likely to be annoyed by having to install constant updates.
Conclusion
If you’re considering releasing a piece of software into the world, then it’s highly likely that a web application could be the best format for your release.
As you’ll have read in this article, there are a multiplicity of benefits that can be gained from developing a web application for your business.
However, it’s essential that you choose the best web app development agency.
GoodCore: we are what ‘good’ looks like in web app development
We are the go-to partner for software development ambitions. For over 19 years we have delivered over 100 successful software projects – and that’s thanks to our smart teams, clear processes, and a tailored approach crafted to suit your needs.
Speak to the GoodCore team today about your web application development project.
