Web applications are the core of online business – from bank services to social media, web apps can deliver a wide spectrum of functionalities that can benefit almost any type of business.
But what exactly are web apps – how do they work and what are their benefits?
The main purpose of web software for business is enhancing the communication between your company and your customers – let’s find out how it achieves that.
What are web applications?
Whenever you access a page with a lot of dynamic, interactive functionality like YouTube, Facebook, Google Analytics, or Slack, you’re in fact using a web application – a piece of software that can be interacted with using an internet browser. There is almost no limit to the types of web applications, and they can find use in any industry, from e-commerce, to education, to healthcare.
Dynamic web apps can adapt to the user’s input, tailoring the user experience of each customer to their specific needs and preferences. They can also adapt to the device they are using, making your services accessible for both mobile and desktop users.
Don’t mistake web application for a website – there is a key distinction here, even though the border between the two is becoming more and more blurred. Websites rarely offer such degree of interactivity as web apps do, and are also much less flexible in their functionality. This makes web apps much easier to integrate, as they’re extremely customizable.
How are web apps created?
Software developers working in efficient teams are often needed to create a successful web app. Most web apps consist of two inseparable layers – the frontend and the backend. Frontend developers are concerned with how the inner functionality of the system can be interacted with by users using an intuitive user interface. Even the most brilliant and complex application wouldn’t become a success if your users wouldn’t be able to interact with it. Frontend developers also take care of website performance and responsiveness, making for a pleasant user experience.
Frontend presents to the users what developers programmed in the backend – all the inner workings of every web app are hidden there. All types of web apps need extensive backend development to offer their users a feature-rich experience.
A web app can be built with various technologies, just as a house can be built with different building materials. The most popular language for programming web apps nowadays is JavaScript, and there are different experts available on the market for different purposes. For example, you can hire React.js developers for building the frontend of the app, and Node.js developers for building the backend.
The benefits of web applications for businesses
In contrast to traditional computer software, web applications don’t require your users to install anything on their hard drive. This radically simplifies the process of using your app, and makes it appear much safer to customers – many users don’t trust installable apps they have to download on their computers.
It’s also easier to operate by users with little computer experience, as all they require to access your services is their internet browser. Web apps can be easily designed to feature expansive tutorials and visual cues, making them more approachable to all users.
Web applications are an affordable solution for any industry, requiring a much less significant resource and time investment than traditional software. They also require less maintenance, and updates can easily be handled automatically without user input. Compatibility is also of no concern, as all users that enter your page will always use the same version.
Flexibility and scaling are the defining traits of web apps – they are extremely easy to adapt for a range of devices and operating systems, making them accessible almost anywhere by anyone. They are also much easier to secure from unauthorized access than standard software, employing various authentication mechanisms.
If you want your online business to prosper, web apps are definitely the way to go!
