It’s a common belief that anything that can be found online and is simple to access with a web browser counts as a website. However, this assumption doesn’t hold true if we observe closely. You encounter two main entities online: websites and web applications. These two serve different purposes, engaging users in varying degrees, and both are crucial building blocks that facilitate online activities. Let’s take a detailed look at the difference between a website and a web application.
What is a Website?
A website is a collection of interconnected web pages that are accessible through a common domain or URL. A website can comprise a single webpage, but typically websites have multiple pages.
Websites are informational and serve as a medium for sharing content, information, services, and contact details. They usually comprise the homepage, content pages, the navigation menu, and contact information. Hence, websites focus on displaying or sharing information rather than getting some tasks done.
Types of Websites
There are two types of websites depending upon the nature of the content that is displayed on websites:
- Static Websites: Static websites are simple websites, where the server sends the exact stored content on the client’s request, without any additional processing. Content is the same for all users. Static websites are written in languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
- Dynamic Websites: The content of dynamic websites changes frequently or varies for different users, based on several factors like location, and time of the day. Frequent changes of content are required in cases of weather information, and stock market data. Dynamic websites are more complex than Static, however, they still focus on “displaying” information which is a characteristic typical of websites. They are written in
AJAX, CGI, ASP.NETetc.
The difference between a website and a web application is often confused with the difference between static and dynamic websites, so we should be careful.
When is the Website Needed?
The following situations are the ones where a website is most frequently required:
- Online business promotion through the display of the company’s goods and services
- Creating a presence online so that people can find you quickly
- Presenting case studies, recommendations, and other evidence to demonstrate your accomplishments.
What is a Web Application?
A web application, often called a web app, is an interactive software program that works through web browsers. Unlike regular websites, web apps come with all sorts of useful functions and tools that let people do things like handling projects, exploring online stores, or accessing content made just for them. Web Applications mimic the functionality of Desktop Applications but are hosted over the web i.e. can be accessed from anywhere on any machine.
Web Applications are developed from regular web technologies, however, they also operate over data. This power of operating over data is provided by scripting languages like PHP, Java, etc., which instruct the web app on how to process the data. Hence, a web app also employs databases like MySQL or PostgreSQL.
Regarding the fundamental difference between websites and web applications, web apps possess the ability to manage the data, and modify or delete them as requested, rather than just the “display” of information.
When is a Web App Needed?
The need for web applications arises when the requirements go beyond just the presentation of information. For any task needing automation, interactivity, and handling of data, a web app is suitable. This is the main utility difference between a website and a web application. The most frequent cases are:
- Automation of tasks, like project management tools, which reduces manual efforts
- Real-time collaboration and communication between teams or individuals
- E-commerce applications are the biggest use case for web apps, allowing the browser to search for items, buy, make payments, and track orders.
Difference between Website and Web Application
To better understand the difference between websites and web applications, we compare them face to face, as follows:
| Criteria | Website | Web Application |
|---|---|---|
| Main Objective | Its primary objective is to display or present the information to the users. | Its primary objective is to enable interactivity and data manipulation by the user. |
| Data Manipulation | Websites allow users to only read the data, no data manipulation is possible. | Web Applications allow the user to read as well as modify or delete the data. |
| Authentication | Authentication is not required in websites, because there is no manipulation of data being done here. | Authentication is essential because only the corresponding user should be permitted to manipulate his/her data and not any others |
| Complexity | Websites are simpler to develop and can be developed from basic web technologies. | Web Apps are complex due to their interactive nature, and involve server-side and database logic as well |
| Data Access | The data presented on websites is publicly accessible. | Data in web apps isn’t shared publicly but only shown to authenticated users. Each user has different data. |
| Cost | Websites are cheaper to host | Web apps are comparatively costlier to host |
| Examples | Company Websites, Blogs, Weather and News Sites are examples of Websites | Social Media, E-commerce, and email clients are examples of Web Apps |
Website vs. Web Application: Which One Should You Choose for Your Business?
What you should prefer amongst websites vs. web applications for your business depends on your business goals. The main point of consideration is whether your need is limited to showcasing business products or services and trying to establish an online presence, in which case Websites are preferred, or if you need interactions with users and functionalities, in which case Web Apps are to be preferred.
We list here a few more points that must be considered while choosing between websites and web applications for your business and help more understand the difference between websites and web applications.
The following factors are favorable for considering the website:
- Websites are cheaper in cost to develop and host, hence for small-cap businesses and businesses who are making a start in the online market can begin developing websites
- Websites are simple. This simplicity means that they can be a host to a major online audience because the usual navigation and website components are very familiar to the general users.
- Websites are internet wide accessible. Hence, it is much easier to establish an online presence over a wide variety of audiences.
- Websites for a business are an artifact of credibility. Having a website is considered to show a value of commitment to providing information to the users.
- Websites are easy to maintain, any changes can be easily updated without redeploying the entire application.
Now we describe some reasons for which Web Apps may be preferred over Websites:
- Web Apps offer a high level of user engagement and interactivity, which lets the users access and manipulate their data from any machine because it is hosted on the web.
- Web Apps lead to better user experience because of customization. Because the user’s data is involved, this leads to personalized experiences.
- Web Apps are more stringent in case security users’ data is involved. Hence, web apps have better access controls and prohibit unauthorized access to malicious requests.
- Web apps can be accommodated to fulfill increasing user demands efficiently, while websites generally break down and suffer from performance issues in such cases. Hence, web apps provide better scalability.
- Web apps offer more functionality and involve task-related tools, unlike websites which offer almost no functionality. Hence, web apps are efficient at managing particular tasks or activities.
Both these sets of reasons define the difference between a website and a web application from a use case point of view. These can help you decide between a website and vs web application.
Conclusion
We went into great detail about the difference between websites and web applications in this essay. The following is a summary of the important points:
- A website is a collection of interconnected web pages that act as a source of information; it is devoid of user functionality and engagement.
- A web application is a piece of software that uses a web browser to function and allows user interaction while carrying out various tasks.
- A website employs common web technology, is simpler to build, costs less to host, doesn’t need authentication, and makes data accessible to everybody.
- Web Apps make use of rather complicated online technologies like scripting languages and databases, which need and provide data security and authentication.
- Your commercial goals will affect your company’s decision. The difference between website and web application for the corresponding criteria will thus have a role to play.
