When you hear the term “website,” what comes to mind? Most people likely think of a simple online presence, a one-page site with information about a business or individual. But a website is more than that. It’s the foundation of your online marketing and branding efforts. In contrast, a web application is an interactive experience that goes beyond the traditional website. Learn the key differences between these two types of digital experiences and how they can benefit your business.
What is a Website?
- A Website is a set of interconnected web pages, usually including a home page, that are accessed by means of a URL and typically hosted on a single web server. A Website may be created by an individual, business, government entity, or organization to serve a variety of purposes. For example, Websites can be used to sell products or services online, share news or information, provide entertainment or education, or promote a cause or issue.
- In order to view most Websites, users must have access to the Internet and use a web browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or Safari. Websites are typically designed using HTML (HyperText Markup Language) code and may also incorporate CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript in order to provide advanced functionality and further improve the user experience.
- Some Websites also make use of databases and server-side scripting languages such as PHP (PHP: Hypertext Processor) in order to dynamically generate content. As the World Wide Web continues to evolve, the capabilities of Websites will continue to expand and become more sophisticated.
What is a Web Application?
A Web Application is a software application that is accessed via a web browser over the internet. Web applications are typically used to allow users to interact with data or perform tasks online and can be designed for use by anyone with an internet connection.
Common examples of web applications include online shopping, online banking, and social networking sites. Web applications are usually built using a combination of server-side and client-side technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While many web applications are free to use, some require users to pay a subscription fee in order to access the full range of features.
Difference between Website and Web Application
- A website is a collection of web pages while a web application is a software or program which can be accessed using a web browser. The website provides information to the users while the web application allows users to interact with the system. The website is static while the web application is dynamic. The website can be developed using HTML while web application uses programming languages like Java, .NET, PHP, etc.
- Website is easy to develop and requires less time while web application development requires more time. The website is hosted on a web server while the web application is hosted on the application server. The website runs on the client side while the web application runs on the server side.
- The website follows a request-response model while the web application follows a three-tier architecture model. The website uses only client-side scripting while the web application uses both client as well as server-side scripting. Finally, a website provides static content to the users while a web application provides dynamic content to the users.
- Static content means that the content of the webpage does not change with respect to time or user whereas dynamic content means that the content changes with respect to time or user or both. So, this was the difference between a website and a web application. Website and Web Application are inter-related terms used in computer networking and programming but with different meanings and purposes.
Conclusion
Websites and web applications are two different things. A website is a collection of pages that are accessible on the internet. A web application is an interactive program that uses a browser as its user interface. The main difference between the two is that websites are passive, while web applications are active.
