{"id":5692,"date":"2025-02-21T11:42:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T11:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodcore.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5692"},"modified":"2025-04-09T04:55:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T04:55:02","slug":"web-app-development-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodcore.co.uk\/blog\/web-app-development-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Only Guide You Need on Web Application Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a>? Discover everything you need to know in this in-depth guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a web application?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When it comes to learning about a topic or concept, it\u2019s always good to begin with a solid definition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What exactly is a web application? Is there an agreed upon definition used by developers and others?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, if we turn to the Encyclopedia Britannica – that lexicographical authority <\/span>par excellence <\/span><\/i>– we find that a web application is defined as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018<\/span>Web application<\/b>, 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\u2019s 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\u2019<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re sure you\u2019ll agree that that is quite an in-depth definition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It perhaps requires some context, however.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to use that particular application? Then you\u2019d need to boot up that particular computer and launch the application. The application would then open in its own dedicated window.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Web applications completely changed the way in which applications are accessed and used (especially when compared to the aforementioned traditional application software).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2018CRUD\u2019. 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The importance of web application development<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even if you only have a passing familiarity with web apps, you\u2019re probably aware that they play a significant role in the lives of Internet users across the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, it\u2019s only going to get more important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to research by Statista, the <\/span>UK market value<\/span><\/a> of web app development is set to reach \u00a38.34bn by 2025. The <\/span>global market value<\/span><\/a> of web app development is expected to reach $195.8bn by 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are not only some staggeringly large numbers, but they provide an insight into the economic value of web app development. And, it\u2019s a buoyant market which is enticing more and more companies like yours to launch their own web solutions for their customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are web applications the same as websites? What\u2019s the difference?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a common misconception that web applications and websites are essentially the same thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re both used within a web browser; aren\u2019t they just the same?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer is somewhat nuanced – and is measured at least partially on the concept of CRUD that we discussed above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Web applications allow users to engage in CRUD – creation, reading, updating, and deletion. They allow a considerable amount of <\/span>input. <\/b>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).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Websites, on the other hand, are defined by the <\/span>output.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

They are less interactive, and focused instead on providing information. They are generally more \u2018static\u2019 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The table below sets out the key differences between web applications and websites:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWeb Application<\/b><\/td>\nWebsite<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Purpose<\/b><\/td>\nTo provide interactive functionality and\/or tools to a user<\/span><\/td>\nTo deliver information or content in an appealing and accessible way<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Interactivity<\/b><\/td>\nHighly interactive; allowing users to perform certain actions, receive responses and other tasks<\/span><\/td>\nLimited interactivity. Users are able to click some links or videos at most<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Functionality<\/b><\/td>\nWeb apps typically offer a large array of functions. These can include data processing, user authentication and real-time updates<\/span><\/td>\nWebsites focus primarily on presenting information. What functions do exist tend to be basic e.g. navigation<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Examples<\/b><\/td>\nGoogle Docs, e-commerce platforms like Shopify etc<\/span><\/td>\nNews and media websites, blogs, company brochure sites etc<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Technology<\/b><\/td>\nWeb apps will typically use an array of frameworks, server-side languages and databases<\/span><\/td>\nWebsites will be more basic, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on a limited basis<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Installation<\/b><\/td>\nWeb apps do not require installation onto local hardware<\/span><\/td>\nWebsites do not require installation onto local hardware<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Updates<\/b><\/td>\nUpdates to web apps are normally taken care of by the app provider and pushed live automatically<\/span><\/td>\nUpdates to websites may require users to clear their browser cache etc<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
User engagement<\/b><\/td>\nWeb apps provide maximal user engagement<\/span><\/td>\nUser engagement focuses less on interaction and more on the passive consumption of content<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

TL;DR – yes, whilst web apps and websites have some similarities, they are distinct and different.\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Popular examples of web applications<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, web applications are software applications that tend to be hosted in the cloud and accessed by users via their Internet browsers. Got it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, you\u2019re probably now wondering if there are any popular examples of web apps in common usage? Well, the answer is <\/span>yes. <\/b>There are countless web applications used by millions (even billions) of people each day across the globe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below, we\u2019ve set out some of the most popular and common web applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gmail<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever used Google\u2019s Gmail, then you\u2019ve used a web app. In fact, <\/span>as we wrote recently<\/span><\/a>, Gmail is one of the earliest – and most widely adopted – web apps, having first launched in April 2004.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Google Docs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another uber-popular web application, Google Docs did for word processing what Gmail did for email clients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With an estimated <\/span>one billion <\/b>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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mailchimp<\/span><\/h3>\n

When it comes to marketing automation platforms, you can\u2019t really find a brand that\u2019s more recognisable than Mailchimp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>SaaS applications<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Notion<\/span><\/h3>\n

A perhaps less well known example of a web application is Notion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An all-in-one <\/span>note-taking<\/span> and collaboration app, Notion was launched in 2016 as a web application firmly targeted at business and enterprise customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although primarily a web application, Notion can be downloaded as a desktop application for macOS and Windows. However, these desktop apps are essentially \u2018wrappers\u2019 around the web app.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Airtable<\/span><\/h3>\n

A cloud-based web app that allows users to create and share relational databases, Airtable is effectively a spreadsheet\/database hybrid application.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like many other web apps, Airtable has multiple possible integrations including with other web apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Jira.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Salesforce<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the world\u2019s biggest CRM (customer relationship management) tools, Salesforce is a web app that has significant market penetration in the world of business and enterprise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Xero<\/span><\/h3>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A short history of web applications<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u2019s no surprise that web apps – with their attendant ease of use – have become so roaringly successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, when exactly did they first emerge? And, how did they develop?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These static web pages generally did their jobs well – keeping people informed, or helping businesses to promote their products and services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, they were just a little\u2026 boring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The impetus to make web pages a bit more\u2026 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The actual concept of a \u2018web application\u2019 was introduced in the Java language in the Servlet Specification version 2.2. (an important milestone in the history of Java web development).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the earliest websites to make use of advanced client-side interactive features included MySpace, Digg, and Google Maps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, web applications are one of the dominant forms of software application – finding use in a multiplicity of private, governmental, and NGO settings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do web applications work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, how exactly do web applications work? In what form are they structured?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, let\u2019s begin with the structure of web applications. As you can imagine, compared to traditional application software, web applications are somewhat more complex.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst your traditional application that\u2019s installed on your local computer will be \u2018single tiered\u2019, the typical web app will be multi-tiered, making use of the user\u2019s web browser, a web server, and an application server.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This three-tier architecture will consist of:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n