Discover the basics of web applications including how they work, their components, types, benefits, and technologies. A complete beginner’s guide to web apps.
Last Updated: May 20, 2025
In today’s digitally driven world, web applications play a crucial role in how we interact with businesses, services, and each other.
A web application is a software application that runs on a web server and is accessed through a web browser over the internet. Unlike traditional desktop applications, which are installed locally, web applications are hosted on remote servers.
Examples include:
Web applications operate on a client-server model:
Technologies include:
Frameworks: React, Angular, Vue.js
Includes web servers, application servers, and databases.
Languages: Python, PHP, JavaScript (Node.js), Ruby, Java
Stores data. Types:
Built with HTML and CSS, with no server-side processing.
Use server-side logic to generate real-time content.
Load a single HTML page and dynamically update content. Examples: Gmail, Google Maps.
Offer offline access, push notifications, and native-app-like experiences.
Enable product listings, cart systems, and payment gateways. Examples: Amazon, eBay.
| Layer | Technology Examples |
|---|---|
| Front-End | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular |
| Back-End | Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails, Laravel |
| Database | MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB |
| Web Servers | Apache, Nginx |
| APIs | REST, GraphQL |
Website: Primarily informational with static content.
Web Application: Interactive with dynamic content and user data handling.
Examples:
Common concerns include:
Best practices include input validation, HTTPS encryption, secure tokens (JWT/OAuth), and regular audits.
Web applications are essential tools powering most of our digital experiences. From checking email to shopping online, they are everywhere.
If you're starting out in development, understanding these fundamentals opens up a wide range of opportunities in tech.
Want to build your own web application? Stay tuned for our next post where we walk through creating one from scratch!
