A web application is an interactive program that runs on a web server and is accessed through a web browser. A web app is built so that the user interface provides data back to the development team that designed it. This data offers insights into customer interests, usage, and preferences that can prove invaluable to product and marketing strategies. The data can also inform optimization and other client-centered aspects of the mobile app or desktop applications.

A big difference between web applications and webpages is that user experience dictates web application design. Traditional web design is based on server-side programmers making decisions about what might enhance usability. In contrast, a web application has an application program interface (API) that takes in large-scale data from the user side and then funnels that information into automation.

For example, if a company has implemented an e-commerce web application that can track and report on which products a potential customer lingered over the longest, similar items can be suggested by the web application the next time the customer logs in. If that same company only had a website, the user’s experience would be based on what was available to every customer: a static and standardized set of options.

Most mobile applications that appear on smartphones are web apps. Here’s a brief list of common web applications:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms
Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, and any web-based email programs
Any self-service customer portal
Query sites, such as Quora and Google
It’s important to note the distinctions that exist between native web apps and mobile apps. Mobile apps live on the device and are designed to run on a specified platform (such as iOS or Android). Examples would include Facebook Messenger and Google Maps. A Google search that takes you directly to the internet browser would be an example of a web app, while Google Maps is a mobile app.

What is the difference between web applications and websites?
A website is built on a platform that only the creator or developer can change. On the other hand, a web application is interactive and built on a platform that allows user data to inform iterations of the application. As they are a collection of HTML documents, web applications might be part of an established website or built as freestanding applications.

The application must be delivered over a network and connected to a database. Where traditional websites serve the major purpose of delivering information (such as text or video) to the user, a web application allows its interactions with the user’s request to produce a variety of possible outcomes.