Understanding the Differences Between Web Apps and Websites

Web Apps and Websites are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences in terms of functionality, user interaction and development.

What is a Web Application?

A web application is often called Web App which is a software application that is stored on a remote server and can be accessed through a web browser. Unlike traditional desktop applications, web apps do not need to be installed on a user's device.

It stores data and manipulates it according to user needs which makes it complex to build. They are customizable and can perform diverse functions, it is mostly built using programming languages i.e. Javascript, PHP, Python etc which makes them difficult to build and require the expertise of experienced software engineers.

Some popular examples include Social media platforms, project management tools, email programs, banking services, audio/video streaming platforms and so on.

What is a Website?

A website is a collection of related web pages that are interlinked together and hosted under a single domain name. It contains images, text, audio, video, etc. It can also consist of one page, two pages or more. It mainly serves as a means of providing information, promoting products or services, facilitating communication and lots more.

Both Website and Web apps can be built using various technologies like HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, PYTHON etc and but website are mostly built using low-code tools with option to twerk with a little bit of code.

Types of a Website

• Dynamic websites
  These are more complex and have back-end interactions with the user. They use more advanced languages and databases in addition to the custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Unlike static, they display different content depending on various factors.

• Static websites
  These are built using simple languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They are called static because they don't have a database a user can interact with. They display the same content for every user who accesses them.

Some examples include Portfolio Website, Business Website, News Website and lots more.

Comparison between Web Apps and Websites

WEB APP	WEBSITES
Can function online using PWA	Needs an internet connection
Complex and is capital-intensive to develop	Simpler and cheaper to develop
Designed to perform specific tasks and functions for users	It primarily serves as an informational platform which limits user interaction
Requires optimization for dynamic tasks	Delivers content efficiently and faster

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