Website vs. Web Application: What’s the difference between a website and a web application?
by: XpertsApp Team
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Modern times have changed the idea of development capability between websites and web applications. Since then, the world has started to believe that both are equally and comparatively important to grow a business. However, this might reinstate an effective dilemma for general end-users who had to go through a hard time distinguishing between a website and a web application.
Well, let’s clear the air. Website and Web Application are two different terminologies often described as the same. What is right and what is wrong? I will tell you all about it as we move further to prove that there is more to the website vs. web app fiasco than what meets the eye.
What is a Website?
Generally, you may find zillions of different sources while searching the website. Here is my take on it. A website is an Internet-based information system that provides access to anyone with a computer connected to the Internet. It is a collection of all interlinked web pages with a unique domain. All of them collectively form the world wide web.
A website can be accessed through anything with a smart screen and input structure, such as mobile phones, PC, tablets, etc. All you need to have is a stable internet connection, and bang! You got yourself in.
How you can build a website is something that people who distance themselves from extensive tech-related stuff often find boring. But in today’s world, it’s not a problem anymore. You can build your website within 20 minutes, and that too, without learning about it for months. Although learning sharpens your skill and helps you help yourself in making a way out of a quagmire situation, you can still build yourself a website in no time.
Website Examples
- Wikipedia
- Baidu
- WordPress
- Amazon
Benefits of Website
- If you are someone with a web presence, these are the benefits you are most likely to receive:
- Websites save your costs by allowing you to advertise your company or brand online. It’s a cheaper and cost-effective means of advertising as compared to print and will enable you to make changes on the go using tools such as CMS.
- A business Website webcasts your business profile all over the world. This benefit will help you increase your sales due to a broader demographic reach.
- A business with a website is more likely to receive more sales and leads from all over the world compared to a company that does not have a web presence. A good content website is key to attracting customers.
- A strategically planned website can attract the target audience. All you need to have is a website.
- Search engine optimization strategies will allow your website to improve its rankings on different search engines.
What is a Web Application?
Web Application is a new term that made its way to the IT world in just a few years. Although Web applications evolved from Websites, it’s different from the website. It is a computer program that uses online browsers to perform various tasks.
Now, what makes a web application different from a website? The very first thing that hits the head is that they are explicitly used for the purposes of online retail. You may have encountered this term before if you are an online shopping enthusiast. However, you can also use a web application to book your holidays or, as commonly as, to order or buy food online. Basically, it is an app that can be accessed through a web browser.
Web Application Examples
Benefits of Web Application For Business
A web application has many benefits, including:
- Web Application is way cheaper as compared to the other application types. However, they require more time to develop than the website but can be easily created than the mobile application type.
- Web Applications offer an excellent way of accessing data securely. The best thing about web applications is that their servers can only be accessed directly by the user or team managing them. Nobody else can access it directly.
- A web app doesn’t need to be updated often like the other native mobile applications.
- The good thing about the web app is that it does not require downloading to access or use it. A user can directly interact with the web app by using the web browser.
What is the difference between a website and a web application?
There are many differences between a website and a web application that sets both web types apart from each other. The main difference between them is that the website combines related web pages with digital features like audio, video, images, and texts. In contrast, a web application is a web page that can be accessed through the browser.
Now that we have understood both the terms to the core of its understanding, let’s jot down the notable differences between the two software and explain them in several parameters.
| Website | Web Application |
| A website provides visual and text content that is static only. | A web application allows users to read the page content and helps them interact with the data through sharing responses and dialogues.
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| You do not need to authenticate on websites unless you sign up for an email or a newsletter. | You will require to set up your credentials for authentication purposes. It means you will need to have a unique username and a login passcode to access services. |
| It allows you to access information without any restrictions. | Information here is restricted to registered users, which won’t allow you to access your data without having secured credentials. |
| The website displays all the information on the page. | The functions of the web application are pretty higher and more complex. |
| Cheaper to host compared to the web application | Expensive to host due to high maintenance and functionalities. |
| It takes lesser time to develop than its counterpart. | It takes a good time to develop a featureful web app. |
| Easy to create since it involves only the compilation of web pages. | It is challenging to build due to its high-security level and various functionalities based on data processing. |
| Not interactive for users | Interactive for users |
| Examples: Ecommerce, Magazines, News, Blogs, etc. | Examples: MS Office, Googles docs, Facebook, Netflix, etc. |
Conclusion
Now that you have grasped everything you needed to know about the website vs. web application, it is easier to understand that website and web application are two different terms. To grow your brand awareness, having a solid web presence is essential to get your business around and make it trend and top in every part of the web world. Web application development should be your go-to option if you need to manage many complex processes simultaneously. But, if you’re only seeking to establish your online presence and want to showcase your business and its goals at the digital forefront, you may consider investing in a website.