Web application
Also called: web-based application or webapp
A Web application is a computer program implemented in the form of an interactive website. Advantages of such online software are that they work with a central database and data storage, that the applications can be used anywhere via the Internet and a Web browser, and that these programs are relatively easy to extend and develop.
To use the web application, only a browser and working Internet connection is necessary. Often users must first log in with a username and password to access the application. When using Web applications, information is retrieved from a Web server, often using requests to a database, on which operations can then be performed locally. This information is then processed by the server, such as by making changes to the underlying database.
Web applications can have a wide variety of purposes. A well-known type of Web application is a content management system, which can be used to manage the content of Web sites. But Web applications can also be used, for example, for CRM, e-mail, administration software, order systems, online calendar management, banking environments, and intranetand extranet environments.
Web applications can be purchased once (standard or customized), but are also sometimes offered and purchased in the form of Software as a Service(SaaS).
To make the functionality of a web application as smooth and user-friendly as possible, in addition to techniques such as html, css and server-side scripting languages like PHP, modern possibilities for an interactive user interface are also used. These include JavaScript, AJAX and jQuery.
