A web application software is a software programme which is stored on the Server and accessed via a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge, Safari, etc.). A more technical definition – ‘A software programme which is developed using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS, etc.) and accessed via a web browser is called a web application’. Any software that can be accessed via a web browser can be called a ‘web application’. For example, popular websites and applications such as Amazon.com, Gmail.com, Wikipedia.com, Facebook.com, etc. are all examples of web applications. Sometimes, the term ‘Web App’ is used to describe a different type of web application which is developed to run on a mobile platform. You can read more about the different types of mobile apps including web apps here.
Advantages of web applications:
Develop once run anywhere: The client-server architecture of the web application allows the web application developer to develop the web application (once) and allow any user (with access to a web browser – which is pre-installed on every computer and smartphone) to access it from anywhere. The main advantage here is that the web application does not depend upon the underlying software platform of the computer or smartphone i.e. the web application will run and perform in exactly the same way on two different types of computers with different operating systems and hardware components.
Easy to upgrade: When compared with other types of software applications, software developed as web applications are very easy to upgrade. This is because, the Server, where all the programming code is stored is the only place where the upgrade needs to be applied. Once upgraded, all users (web browsers) accessing the web application will automatically access the upgraded version.
Performance: When it comes to developing enterprise-level applications that store and process a large amount of data, developing a web application is a very attractive approach. This is because storing and processing large amounts of data required a lot of powerful and expensive hardware and if not centralised, every user in an organisation will require a very powerful i.e. an expensive computer. If developed as a web application, all the complex processing and storing of data can be handled by the server and the users (web browser) are simply shown the end results, saving a lot of investment in expensive hardware.
Open-source software: There are a lot of open software development tools, frameworks and resources available that not only help to speed up the development of web applications (using readymade libraries) but also help to reduce the cost to develop the same. Frameworks like Bootstrap, AnjularJS, Kendo, etc, provide a lot of out-of-the-box features and functions that can be simply plugged into web applications, which can sometimes help to save a lot of development effort.
Standards and maintenance: Software developed as a web application by reputed companies and developers follows well-defined, mature industry standards and best practices. Also, because of a wide user base of developers and users, help and resources are always a click away on the Internet. This results in lower maintenance costs and allows the older web application to be compatible with newer versions of software.
Disadvantages of web applications:
Security: By design, web application software runs on a server along with the data it needs to access. This can be viewed as a security risk as all data, which is required to be accessed by the web application is stored at a central location and any breach of security will mean that all data is compromised. This applies to all types of web application software i.e. bespoke aka custom web applications as well as off-the-shelf web applications that run in the cloud. Because of our vast experience in developing bespoke web applications for our UK clients, our award-winning web application development service team in London knows how to develop bespoke web portals which are fast, reliable and easy to use, without compromising on security. Internet connectivity: Because all data and business processing logic for a web application software is stored on a server, all users i.e. clients need to have some connectivity (Internet) to the Server in order to access the same. If there is no connectivity between the client and the server, the web application becomes unusable. Because of this, web application software cannot be used in situations where clients do not have continuous Internet access.
Cross-browser compatibility: As all web application software is accessed using a web browser (client), the web application development company and developers have to ensure that the web application is compatible with all modern/popular web browsers. Web application development experts (like Schnell) always take into account the subtle differences in the way different browsers support different functions and features. If this is not done correctly, users accessing the web application software via different web browsers may face difficulties in using some its features and functions.
Speed: As the web application software is accessed via the Internet, the speed of the Internet connection can be the limiting factor. If the web application software uses a lot of images and sends across a large amount of data over a slow Internet connection, it can be very frustrating for the users who have to constantly wait for the screen to refresh after every click. Web application development companies like Schnell, who specialise in developing bespoke web applications have the necessary experience to deliver a seamless user experience over slow Internet connectivity by altering the design and architecture of the various web application components. We have developed web applications that can be accessed over 3G connectivity and broadband Internet without any loss of features or functionality.
External dependency: Because the web application software is accessed via web browsers, there is an inherent dependency on the features and functions supported by the popular web browsers. If the company developing a bespoke web application wants to add a feature or function not yet supported by the popular browsers, it becomes impossible to deliver this feature without developing additional ‘add-ons’ for specific web browsers, which then defeats the ‘develop once – run anywhere principle of web application software. Right from developing simple e-forms, and enterprise-level CRM to developing bespoke (aka custom) web applications that integrate and automate all parts of the business and processes, Schnell Solutions, a reputed and award-winning web application development company near London UK, has helped many UK companies to make the best possible use of web applications within their organisations.