The internet is everywhere.

The latest advancements in communication and information technology have changed the way businesses are conducted around the world.

How has the internet transformed business strategies? Answering this question requires a deeper analysis of all that can be done through the internet; ideas that were not possible before. However, at the most basic level, the internet has allowed companies to display their products and services online by using two major platforms, a website and a web application. From delivering customer support, marketing campaigns, helping with site traffic, and much more, these platforms have allowed brands to flourish in a minimal timeframe.

Websites and web apps are both unique in their characteristics and have their own importance. The web application vs website dilemma has confused business owners for years. Both require an internet connection, both are easily accessible from any browser, and both are highly responsive. How can you tell the difference between them and how can you assess which one is better for your needs in 2022? Let us delve deep into this blog to learn more about these platforms, and help you decide the best option for your particular needs.

What is a Website?

A website is a collection of web pages connected under a domain name and hosted on a server with a unique IP address. You can think of it as your extended business card that people can access via a link. It provides valuable information about your company’s services or products. Users can access a website from different devices like phones, desktops, laptops, and tablets by opening their browser and typing the domain name or clicking on a particular link.

The internet has numerous websites that are dedicated to news, education, tourism, real estate, and other industries. They aim to present the key activity of a business and help readers solve their needs. Websites consist of hyperlinks that guide the navigation. The journey on a website starts mostly from the home page, but it can also begin from a different page that is opened through these hyperlinks.

A website’s goal is to provide relevant information to its readers. A good website has features that make it stand out from the crowd, the most important one being that it is secure for its readers. To avoid any security issues and protect readers’ data a website uses HTTPS protocols that repair the initial problem. A good website is SEO friendly on the technical and content levels. Speed is a critical metric in this busy world and a good website has a higher speed to adapt responsiveness. Business websites excel if they have these characteristics to function properly.

What is a Web Application?

A web application is a software that can be accessed from a browser and stored on a server. A web app is different from a mobile application or a desktop application because it can be accessed through a link. Web apps are not installed from any store. A web application usually is responsive so it will adapt to the dimensions of the screen that you access it from, like a smartphone, a laptop, a desktop, and a tablet. It usually requires a web hosting solution that manages requests and most of the time a database that stores the information. The majority of the web applications are dynamic and require server-side processing.

Web applications are widely spread, from e-commerce platforms to social networks. Each of them allows users to perform their tasks and improve their lives, giving them valuable information or entertaining them. A good web application has several characteristics that make it easier for businesses to choose. It is essential to have secure authentication for a web application where a user's login and password are generated safely. A great web application needs to be intuitive so that customers will easily use it without wasting time on creating extended documentation. Therefore, the data processing should take place easily and without affecting the loading speed.

Website vs Web Apps: How to choose?

In this digital era, both websites and web apps are important. The decision between them is based on the priorities of a particular business. If you want to showcase your business and present your products to the world, you need a website. If you want an online tool to help you automate a process, you need a web application. If you build a web application and want to sell it, you would probably need both because a website helps you promote the product you just created.

The difference between a website and a web application is obvious. A website is a visit card for your product. It can be used to gain new clients, get more leads, build a strong brand identity, increase sales, etc. Websites are cheap and simple, making them a good option for founders who need to validate their business idea before investing in a website application. Web apps are dynamic and make products interactive. The best feature of a web app is that it implements any product idea. The idea for web apps can be of any type whether it is a booking application, online store, a customer relations management system, etc.

Many small businesses start by creating a simple website. With time they may grow and find that they require more functionality to meet the needs of their customers or to generate leads. It may be that they would like customers to be able to order products directly from their website, gather feedback with a customer survey, or even simply boost engagement. With time that business company will develop a web app. For instance, an auto detailing shop might increase their site traffic with a web app that lets you choose different paint colours, and view how it would look on your car. This is a value-adding feature that transforms the website into a web app.

On one hand, websites are great for showcasing your services or contact information and require no input from the end-user. On the other hand, web apps enable visitors to make requests and receive responses. Whichever you choose will depend on your personal needs and the needs of your customers and visitors. Overall, on the modern web, the line between websites and web apps is blurry. So while it is helpful to understand the differences, it is also important to remember that your site might have both static and interactive elements, and that’s fine.

Conclusion

Both a website and web app are great tools to conduct business online. The only criteria for choosing between the two is the nature and purposes of your business. If you have a business idea but cannot choose between making a website or web app for it, we are here to assist you. Book an appointment with Alfabolt and discuss your project with us and start on your business journey with ease!

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