We have all heard about mobile applications for iOS and Android, we know about their convenience, benefits, and we also actively install them on our smartphones, tablets and other gadgets. But not everyone knows about another equally relevant technology - web applications. Nevertheless, many regularly visit the resources created on its basis. For example, the same Amazon.
Since the creation of web applications is one of the services we provide, we decided to tell you a little more about them, their features and advantages. This information is what you will find in this material.
What is a Web Application?
From the technical point of view, a web application is characterized as a client-server application, where the client is a browser that interacts with a web server. The exchange of data between them is carried out via a network connection. The data itself is mainly stored directly on the server. In fact, a web application is a site, the content of which is not initially fully or partially formed. It is formed at the user's request as a result of downloading the requested information from the server to the client. As a result, the user, using a web application instead of a regular site, does not have to browse the entire array of information available within the resource, looking for what interests him. Roughly speaking, it is enough for him to set the query parameters, and the page will be formed in such a way that the information that interests him is displayed. In the case of ordinary static pages of sites, when a user enters a request in the search bar of the browser, it is sent to a web server, which sends a pre-formed page with content to it. If we talk about web applications, then here the request is additionally forwarded to its web server, which forms the content of the page exactly for the entered request, thereby ensuring a much higher level of correspondence of the issued information to the user request. Mobile web apps have been on the rise for a long time since around the 2010s. At the moment, they are actively used by such giants as Amazon, Microsoft, CNN. It is used as the basis for the electronic version of The Economist, as well as many other popular resources. Compared to conventional websites and mobile applications, web applications have several undeniable advantages, in particular: ‣ Cross-platform . This is the first and most important thing. There is no need to create separate applications for iOS , Android or other operating systems. It is enough to develop one web application that will be fully and largely compatible with all major platforms. In addition, web applications are available on all devices without installing a specialized program. Only a browser is required to provide access. ‣ Simplified access to information... This is also important, because it is much easier for the user to receive structured data according to the criteria specified by him. This is especially true for sites with a large amount of diverse content, because regular search on them often becomes a huge problem, taking a lot of time without a guarantee of ultimate success. The modern user loves to find what he needs quickly, and resource owners must take steps to ensure this is possible. ‣ Ability to create your own standalone database : Stored on the application's web server. This allows you to collect and process user information without resorting to using third-party services. This opportunity is especially relevant for the websites of banks and other organizations. In addition, minimizing the directions in which personal data is transmitted significantly reduces the likelihood of their leakage. ‣ Automation of processes on the site . Implementation of web applications allows you to automate updating the content on the site, as well as solving many other tasks. This greatly simplifies the implementation of current changes, reduces labor costs for their implementation. As for the drawbacks, compared to the usual static pages of sites, web applications have no drawbacks, since they are much more convenient, and not only for users, but also for project administrators. Compared to conventional mobile applications, web applications lose in only one way - they work exclusively when connected to the Internet, there is no possibility of using it offline. However, for resources based on the provision of the freshest and most relevant data, this is not a minus.
Stages of web application development
The first stage, from which the development of a web application begins, is always a request from a customer and a task setting. To a certain extent, it can be called the most important, since in the course of communication with the client, a detailed technical task is developed. This is a document that displays all the requirements for functionality, technical part, design wishes and everything else. It is on the basis of the terms of reference that the developers will create the finished product. Therefore, its most thorough and detailed study is in the interests of both the customer and ours.
Planning
But the first step, directly related to creating a web application, is planning. Within its framework, a home page is created, the styles of the remaining pages are developed, goals and objectives are set for the development team. At the same stage, the structure of the new site is worked out, the main HTML code is written, and the CSS style code is also created.
Design
At this stage, the design of the entire project is finally approved, its specifications are worked out, and the content is planned, and a draft version is created. The server part is also being developed by installing and preparing control systems, databases, platforms. Based on the results of the design stage, developers receive a project completely ready for testing.
Testing
At this stage, a wide variety of tests are carried out to detect, localize and fix any problems, bugs, problems. The most important task is to check and ensure 100% compatibility of the web application with browsers, although other equally important tasks are being solved.
In total, the following types of testing are carried out in parallel:
integration;
functional;
loading;
performance check.
In other words, all aspects of performance, usability, stability and compliance with the specification are checked. All detected faults are eliminated, after which the tests are repeated. This continues until all the problems are identified.
Launch of the project
This is the last stage of web application development. After its completion, it becomes public and open for use. Usually, starting up involves the following list of works:
data transfer;
starting the server;
code integration;
final domain name assignment.
After this, the work can be considered successfully completed, and the webmaster starts to work, who will then be engaged in the promotion of the new project.
Sample web applications
There are now thousands of examples of web applications that have become successful and useful. Hundreds of them are owned by large companies and corporations. And we will briefly consider those that are both popular and illustrative. First of all, this is the Amazon store site. It very clearly shows that making the process of choosing and buying goods on a site with a huge variety of products of all types can be made much faster and more convenient compared to a classic online store. It is impossible not to mention the Microsoft web application. If not for it, no user would be able to receive instructions and other information of interest from the corporation. A huge array of information would make you simply drown in an incredible amount of data. And so, Microsoft shows an example of how quickly and easily you can get exactly the information you need. The web applications CNN and The Economist are prime examples of news resources. Given their scale, users to search and filter news, manual publication would be at least inconvenient. On the other hand, the format of a well-designed web application(Hire Creative Mobile App Developers in USA) greatly simplifies administration and data updating on these services.