A website is a collection of webpages with a single domain name and is globally accessible via web browsers. Websites host on single or multiple servers. You can access a website with internet access or via a virtual private network with an IP address. People seek websites for the latest updates about a specific business. Therefore the content should be relevant, and the user interface should be interactive and appealing. A mix of colours, fonts, themes, graphics and animations play a role in making it visually attractive. The functionality should be seamless with no broken links. Page redirection and navigation should be smooth. Appropriate use of metadata and alternate text should be there to direct users to the right page content. E.g.: www.amazon.com, www.youtube.com, mail.google.com etc.
Features
- Flow: Websites are uni-directional information feed. It does not allow users to interact.
- Responsive: Websites for mobile are responsive. It adjusts to the mobile screen of any size.
Hosting
- Shared hosting is preferable for entry-level websites.
- Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is preferred for websites that are 1-3 years old. It serves as a middle ground between dedicated servers and shared servers.
- Dedicated Server Hosting is preferable for websites that prefer renting or owning their servers. It is the most expensive hosting option.
- Cloud hosting is preferable for physical space allocation for the servers. It reduces the chances of errors, any downtime due to server malfunction.
- Managed to host providers look after day-to-day hosting, hardware and software setup and configuration, hardware replacement, maintenance, patching, technical support, monitoring and updating.
- Co-located hosting is preferred when rent space (racks and cabinets) to locate your servers. The co-location centers provide power, bandwidth, IP address and cooling systems.
What is a web application?
Adjectives defining web applications – Cloud-hosted, highly scalable, cross-platform, modular, loosely coupled and easily tested with automated tests. It is a combination of server-side and client-side scripts. E.g.: Google App (SPA), Gmail (SPA), Microsoft 365 (SPA), Twitter Lite (PWA), Facebook (PWA), Forbes (PWA) and Pinterest (PWA) etc.
It is similar to a website because
- You do not need to remember the URL
- Click on the app icon; the app will open in the browser.
- There is no specific SDK for developing web applications.
Types
- Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
- Single-Page Apps (SPA)
Features
- Web applications are easier to maintain as compared to websites.
- These are visible on Windows, Mac or Linux servers as they support all modern browsers.
- And you do not require app store approval to publish such apps.
- These are automatically updating. Users do not require to update their application with every release patch.
- Web apps are cost-effective.
- Web applications are vulnerable to unauthorized access.
- These may not support multiple browsers with equal precedence.
- Web applications are scalable with the increasing complexity of features.
- These use manual or cloud-hosted servers.
Typical Flow
- A user triggers a request to the webserver.
- The web server forwards this request to the appropriate web application server.
- Web application server performs the requested task (querying the database, processing data)
- Web application server reciprocates the results to the webserver (with the requested information or processed data)
- The web server responds to the client with the requested information, then appears on the user’s display.
Website vs. Web Application Difference
| Differences | Website | Web Application |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience | It is publically accessible for all viewers. | It targets niche users. |
| Interaction | Users can read the data but cannot manipulate it. | Users can read and access restricted data. |
| Authentication | Users do not need any credentials to access websites. | Users need to sign up to access web apps. |
| Type | A website is a complete product in itself. | Web application development is a part of a website. |
| Deployment | Any small changes are saveable. There is no need to recompile and deploy. | Every change needs to be recompiled and deployed. |
| Device Compatibility | All devices are compatible. | Web apps that are native require device-specific design. |
| Time and Cost | It is less costly and quicker to develop. | It is costlier and takes time to develop in case of cross-platform presence. |
| Post-deployment Maintenance | Easily manageable. | Require more maintenance and support. |
| Customization | It is generic. | Native web apps require accessing the user’s GPS, camera, microphone, instant messages, audio, video etc. |
| Offline Availability | It can work offline. | It requires internet connectivity. |
| Examples | Mail.google.com, www.twitter.com | Gmail, Twitter Lite |
Cost To Create A Website
We base our website development cost on factors like – requirements to build a website, domain, cost of the domain, hosting (no. of years), cost of hosting, WordPress theme and plugins, maintenance, website maintenance cost, number of pages, banner, slider, logo, dynamic website, free domain, and free contact form, webpage content and the cost to create webpage content.
Web applications with superior design, intelligent marketing and intuitive development costs around $1,00,000.
Conclusive: Website vs. web app – which one to choose for your business?
A website promotes your business, so is a web application. If you do not have a target audience in mind, go for a website. But if you want to focus on a particular group of people, try web application development. We are a recognized Web Development Company in India focusing on web application development and website development.
We urge you to check our past work portfolio, results, website design package and get an instant quote based on your development requirements!