An Ultimate Guide to Web Application Development

Quick Overview: Web applications are pivotal for business growth, efficiency, and user experience. This guide explores their significance as revenue drivers and business differentiators, essential for CEOs and business owners aiming to thrive in the digital landscape. Let's innovate together and shape the future of your business!

Nowadays, a robust web presence is essential to remain competitive amongst competitors. Whether you are a startup or an established enterprise, understanding web application development is crucial for driving growth and innovation.

This blog is your roadmap to navigating the complex world of web development with ease. We'll provide practical insights into building custom web applications that align with your business objectives. From enhancing customer engagement to streamlining internal processes, we'll show you how web applications can revolutionize your operations and drive revenue.

This research-driven article – a guide for web application development is your blueprint. We'll explore what a web application is, its types, how it works, web app development cost, and how to develop a web app. Moreover, we will also talk about what the future of web apps holds.

And most importantly, we'll equip you with enough information to help you understand everything about web applications.

So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the exciting world of web development. With this guide, you'll have the power to turn your ideas into a thriving online reality!

What is Web Application Development?

Web application development refers to the process of designing, building, testing, and deploying dynamic applications accessed through web browsers over the internet. These web-based applications are installed on remote servers that execute using client-side and server-side programming.

Web app development involves designing and building web-based applications that users can interact with via a web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc), without installing them on their devices. It encompasses various technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and backend frameworks like Node.js or Django. By choosing the best web app architecture, developers work on both client-side and server-side components to deliver seamless functionality, usability and scalability to end users. These applications can range from simple websites to complex web-based software solutions, catering to diverse needs across industries and user demographics.

What is a Web Application?

A web application, also known as a web app, is an interactive software application that uses a web browser and runs on a web server to perform specific operations. A web application is a client-side program that is developed using various technologies – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. A web app is comprised of two main parts - Client-side and Server-side.

Here, the user enters data through the client-side (front-end), while the server-side (back-end) of the application stores and processes the information.

A few examples of web applications are LinkedIn, MailChimp, or Facebook, which have web apps that provide tailored experiences like native apps directly from web browsers. That’s the reason almost all industries like eCommerce, Education, Healthcare, Finance, and Travel are on the verge of adopting web development with the rise of its popularity.

If you look at the data and statistics about the growth of web applications, you will get a better understanding of why it has created hype amongst all industries.

• As per Statista, revenue in the web application development market is projected to reach US$179.90bn in 2024.
• Modern technologies and JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular are gaining popularity in developing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and responsive design for web applications.
• The global progressive web apps market is forecasted to reach $10.44 billion by 2027.
• Over 50% of users uninstall some mobile applications because they are not in use and take a lot of space.

When talking about a web application, many people misunderstand it as a website. Since you are here for web app development, you should understand the difference between a web application and a website.

In fact, we will clear your doubts regarding web apps vs websites in the below section.

Most Common Comparisons with Web Application Development

Comparing web apps in today's era is slightly different from what it was in the past. With the ever-changing world, more and more developers are creating different web applications that are faster, more responsive, and with better graphics.

Keeping up with these changes can be hard for one person to do on their own, but fortunately for you, we have created this list of comparisons to help you out!

Here are some of the most popular comparisons of web apps with websites and mobile apps:

1. Web Application vs Website

Websites are essentially the visualization of images, videos, and written information that can only be seen with severe restrictions on changes from the user side, in contrast to web applications that provide more interaction flexibility to the user.

Let’s read how a website is different than a web application.

2. Web Application vs Mobile Application

You now have a basic understanding of web applications. In what ways do these applications compare to mobile apps? There are certain parallels, such as the fact that both are accessible via cell phones, interactive, and able to store data. However, there are also differences. Let’s read that together.

What are the Benefits of Web Application Development?

As a business owner or founder, you might not be fascinated by the web application information we shared earlier. You must be thinking about why we would develop a web application. What types of advantages does web app development bring to us or our users?

To help you understand this, we have outlined some of the best benefits of web-based application development.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: It allows a web app like single-page application (SPA) to be used by people regardless of their devices, and this is exactly why many large companies choose to use it, especially if they are targeting a mass audience.
• User Security: Another benefit is that web apps improve user security as no malware can access them as long as the users stick to reliable app store websites (Google Play Store for Android apps and Apple App Store for iOS apps).
• Easy Maintenance: Another benefit of developing a web app is that it is very easy to maintain, provided you have hired professional developers who know what they are doing.
• Easy Updates and Maintenance: Updates to web applications are instant and seamless, as they are deployed centrally on the web server. This ensures all users can access the latest version without requiring manual updates.
• Lower Development Costs: Web application development offers cost and time savings compared to native apps or desktop programs. This is because there's no need to learn any framework or create local installation packages. Additionally, web app development typically involves less customization due to the availability of frameworks and tools. Moreover, many developers are embracing low-code platforms and tools to speed up the development process.
• Business Agility: The foremost benefit of web app development is that web apps can help your business overcome the obstacles of maintaining a stable product without being able to launch it on various platforms.
• Scalability: Web applications can easily scale to accommodate growing user bases and increased workload demands, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes.

These are a few benefits that, as a business, you can get from web application development. But there's something more to it; if you want a customized app with complex functionalities to meet your business requirements, then enterprise application development falls into the picture! Designing such applications for large enterprises tailored to their detailed business requirements is known as enterprise app development.

Types of Web Applications

Even though we have seen a difference between web apps, websites, and mobile apps, we have figured out some different types of web application development based on their functionality and flexibility. Choose the one that suits your business needs.

1. Static Web Applications

Static web applications are the most basic and simple types of web applications built using CSS, HTML, and jQuery. These web-based static apps don’t directly interact with users and have no room for flexibility. Therefore, these are quite difficult to update or modify as your business grows.

However, adding certain basic elements like animation, videos, GIFs, and interactive banners can make your web app a little more attractive.

A web application is suited for those businesses or users who want to only provide information about their businesses.

Netlify and Jekyll are the most popular examples of static web apps.

2. Dynamic Web Applications

Dynamic web applications generate data dynamically (in real-time) based on user requests and server responses. As the name suggests, dynamic web applications are flexible and interactive, which allow users to fill the data, such as comments, contact us forms, user profile creation, and other information.

In fact, dynamic web applications are complex as compared to static web applications. But the best part is you don’t require any access to the server.

For better understanding, let us give you an example:

Whenever you log in to a music app, like Spotify, it will give you a song selection based on your choice. If you choose rock music, Spotify will give you more rock-based music recommendations and deliver personalized and interactive music streaming experiences based on your selection.

In fact, this is the same with Netflix, which chooses movies based on your search and selection.

Generally, these dynamic applications have an administrative panel, often referred to as a Content Management System (CMS), allowing administrators to modify or update the application's content, such as text and images. ASP and PHP programming languages are prominent in creating dynamic web applications.

3. Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are the most demanding web apps that encompass the best features of web and native applications. These PWAs are web apps that use the latest browser APIs, features, and advanced methods to deliver a native mobile app-like experience, including offline functionality, push notifications, and device access, as supported by progressive web app frameworks.

Progressive web apps leverage both mobile app development and web development methodologies in their development. Progressive web applications are developed using various web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Some of the notable examples of PWAs are Slack, BMW, and Starbucks. In fact, Google has recently launched Google Meet as a standalone PWA.

“We’ve launched a new Google Meet standalone web app. This Progressive Web Application (PWA) has all the same features as Google Meet on the web, but as a standalone app it’s easier to find and use, and it streamlines your workflow by eliminating the need to switch between tabs.”

- Team Google

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4. Single Page Applications (SPAs)

Single Page Applications (SPAs) are browser-based applications that run within a browser and don’t require page loading to display content. A single-page application continuously interacts with the user by dynamically rewriting the current web page with new data rather than loading entire new pages from a server multiple time.

Here, requests and responses occur efficiently due to small amounts of data. And SPAs perform logic on the browser instead of a server.

Single Page Application (SPA) development happens using both frontend and backend technologies.

The finest examples of SPAs are Gmail, PayPal and Pinterest.

5. Multi-Page Applications

Unlike SPAs, multi-page applications have multiple web pages, which are required to reload the entire page to display the changes by the user.

For example, when you search for mobile phones after logging into Amazon, you click on a particular mobile phone to read its specifications. As soon as you click on the ‘Add to Cart’ button, the web app will redirect you to the next page. Then you need to click on the ‘Buy’ button, and then you will be redirected to the final page to finalize your product purchase.

6. Portal Web Applications

Portal web applications aggregate information from various sections and categories and provide a gateway to access content in one page. The page consists of different information like emails, chats, forums, news, user registration, etc.

Examples of popular portal apps are Yahoo, MSN, and AOL, which allow personalized access and user-centric navigation based on user needs.

In addition, we can also consider Udemy and Coursera, which are educational portal web apps.

7. E-Commerce Web Applications

E-commerce apps are web-based applications that allow users to sell or buy anything online over the internet. eCommerce web applications have advanced features like a product database, shopping cart, payment gateway, order management, real-time data tracking, and many more.

Amazon and eBay are popular examples of eCommerce web applications.

8. Content Management System (CMS)

A Content Management System (CMS) is a type of web application that allows you to create, edit, and manage website content without any help from the technical team. The CMS-powered web application enables you to modify content from the admin panel, even though you have no programming language knowledge.

For example, WordPress is one of the most popular CMSs, and it is built with the required tools for website admins.

In fact, Drupal is another example of a CMS web application, which is used by 1.4% of all websites live on the internet (WWW). This is 1.0% of all websites.

9. Animated Web Application

Animated web applications are used for enterprise purposes, utilizing animations, graphics, audio, and video to deliver an interactive user experience. In fact, using these animations, you can make your web applications more attractive and engaging.

To build animated web applications, HTML5, Adobe Flash, JavaScript libraries, CSS3, and SVG are used to enable advanced animations and media integration.

Google’s Your Plan, Your Plant is the perfect example of this animated web application.

10. Rich Internet Web Application (RIA)

Rich Internet Applications (RIA) are mostly web applications that have the functionality of many desktop applications. RIAs work around browser limitations and rely on plugins on the client side. They provide real-time updates and highly responsive interfaces.

Some of the rich web apps have the capability to run offline as well. However, the major challenge we found with RIA is its risks and the trouble they cause. This means if the plugin is outdated, many parts of the app associated with the plugin may be affected or not work properly.

RIAs are generally built using various platforms like HTML5, AJAX, JavaFX, and Silverlight.

Some of the best examples of RAIs are web-based office suites, CAD software, and trading platforms.

How Does a Web Application Work?

The typical workflow of a web application looks like this:

Step 1 - A user accesses a web app to view information, products, and services on a web browser or a mobile application.

Step 2 - The web server forwards the request to the appropriate web application server.

Step 3 - The web application server completes the required task (such as processing new data) and produces the necessary results.

Step 4 - The web application server then transmits the results and the requested data to the web server.

Step 5 - The user is presented with the requested information after the web server responds to the client (mobile, desktop, tablet, etc.).

What is the Cost to Build a Web App?

A web app development cost is subjective and completely depends on your business requirements. Every company has a different niche and, therefore, has a different requirement. That’s why there’s no fixed cost that fits all.

The basic web app development cost can start from $15,000 with basic functionalities and features. However, the cost of web application development with complex features can range between $25,000 and $150,000.

When determining the cost of developing a custom web application, several factors must be considered, including the selected type of web application, the technology stack, team size, collaboration model, and application requirements.

For a more in-depth breakdown and detailed insights on web app development costs, you can explore our complete guide here

Web Application Development Frameworks

When going for web app development, frameworks are essential tools to make the development process easier and faster. Having good experience and expertise in these frameworks can enable software developers to create scalable, secure, and valuable applications. And that’s why choosing the right framework for your web app development project is essential.

However, frameworks are categorized into two types: frontend and backend. The frameworks below represent the view layer of the front side (client-side) and back side (server-side).

In fact, the frontend frameworks mentioned here are not really frameworks. However, to have a clear understanding and simplicity, we refer to them as frameworks.

Let’s take a look at the most suitable frameworks for developing web apps:

Frontend Frameworks/Libraries

Following are the most popular frontend frameworks:

1. React

React is a JavaScript library widely used for building user interfaces. Developed and maintained by Facebook, React is the most popular and powerful frontend library to develop large-scale web application projects. Known for its ability to create reusable components, React is mainly used for single-page application development.

With its active community and support from numerous third-party resources, React is a solid choice for web development.

2. Vue.js

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework designed to build user interfaces and single-page applications (SPAs). It allows developers to buid desktop and mobile apps and web interfaces with ease. It offers a wide range of tools and libraries that streamline the process of developing dynamic and responsive user interfaces.

Vue.js supports Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture, allowing developers to easily manage and manipulate the application state. As a result, it has become the best front-end framework for modern web app development.

3. Ember

Ember is an open-source JavaScript framework for building web apps. It follows the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture pattern and provides a set of conventions for organizing code, which helps developers write maintainable and consistent code.

With the rapid growth of the community, Ember has grabbed the attention of developers. In fact, it enables developers to build ambitious web applications by providing a strong structure and a set of conventions. Ember is suited for applications which consist of complex user interactions and require frequent data updates.

Backend Frameworks

Let’s go through some of the best backend frameworks here:

1. Django

When it comes to backend frameworks for web app development, Django is always counted on the list.

Django is an open-source, Python-based, full-stack web framework that runs on a web server. It follows the Model-Template-Views (MTV) architectural pattern, encouraging developers to use clean, pragmatic design and rapid development.

Django comes with a wide range of tools and features, helping developers to streamline the web app development process, including an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system, a template engine, built-in support for user authentication, and a powerful administration interface. Moreover, it supports database access and the latest version of Python, which makes it an ideal choice for web app development.

2. Laravel

Laravel is a PHP-based framework designed to build high-quality web applications quickly and easily. PHP is backed by API support and contains several PHP languages, making it a popular choice in backend frameworks.

Laravel follows the MVC architecture pattern, enabling developers to create separate components of their applications into distinct layers. As a result, it becomes easy to maintain and manage the app. Furthermore, it also supports multiple design patterns and principles, such as dependency injection, active record, and inversion of control, to make a web app more modular and flexible.

3. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails, known as Rails, is an MVC framework built in the Ruby programming language.

In fact, Rails is termed as one of the most developer-friendly frameworks as it helps newbies to start web app development very fast. RoR is an open source framework with a wide range of tools and libraries for developing web applications efficiently and quickly.

Therefore, Rails has become a suitable language for building a wide range of applications, from simple blogs to complex eCommerce applications.

How to Develop a Web Application?

The basic procedure for web-based application development will remain the same, regardless of the industry or type of business the web app supports.

Steps to build a web application or any other type of software often requires integration between various web application programming languages and environments.

1. Discovering the Purpose- Formulate a purpose for the software. The purpose of web application development is to provide information to users in the most useful manner possible. It's crucial to determine what data needs to be provided before deciding how the software will operate. It can range from simple facts about products or services, or an entirely new way of interacting with data.

2. Wireframing- It is the blueprint of your application. Creating a wireframe for mobile or web apps helps define the look and functionality of the product.

3. Programming- This step will involve work on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The program's coding is done with the industry's most popular platforms: PHP, Python, and Java. The most complex steps will be created using advanced web application frameworks like Ruby on Rails or Django.

4. Testing- This aspect of software development is critical to ensuring the application functions properly when users or customers use it. Any changes to a web application must undergo manual testing by a qualified software developer before being sent to the hosting company (usually an online server).

5. Deployment- After the application has been created, it can be launched online to the public. Professional web application developers will ensure that everything is working with minimal downtime and fix any other problems that can occur when putting a site online.

6. Maintenance- This step is crucial to ensure the application runs smoothly for all web users, regardless of who they are or where they're from. Professionals should regularly maintain web applications so that any problems arising can be fixed as quickly as possible.

For a more detailed guide on each of these steps and expert insights into how to develop a web application, visit our comprehensive blog here

Web Application Development Validation and Deployment

Now that we have discussed web app development and how it works, let us take a look into other aspects, such as validation and deployment. These two are some of the most critical aspects of developing a website or web portal. Let us look into the same.

Once your web application has been created and is prepared for release, testing is essential to ensure it runs properly before deployment. Fixing bugs is insufficient on its own. As a result, testing is essential to the creation of online applications.

A standard web application undergoes the following testing:

1. Usability testing
2. Performance testing
3. Web App Security testing
4. Quality assurance
5. Testing & bug fixing
6. Browser compatibility testing
7. Responsive testing

Your web app is prepared for release after the quality assurance procedure is finished. You can utilize GitHub, Beanstalk App, and Bitbucket App for server deployment. The deployed application is updated with new features, modifications, and enhancements in response to user feedback. Now let us look into the web application development trends and the future of web app development in depth.

The Future of Web Application Development

The future of web application development promises an exciting evolution, driven by technological advancements, changing user expectations, and emerging trends.

As artificial intelligence gains prominence and drag-and-drop site builders, DIY platforms, and other tools become widespread, the future of web app development is both exhilarating and unpredictable.

According to Statista, the current number of web developers and digital interface designers in the US exceeds 200 thousand, with projections indicating an increase to over 228 thousand by 2032.

Here's a glimpse into what lies ahead:

Blockchain

Blockchain, especially distributed ledger and smart contracts, is considered one of the latest trends in web-based application development. Blockchain's use as an alternative to traditional payment systems has made it more relevant in the digital financial world. With blockchain technology, there are no centralized authorities, thus making it ideal for secure data storage in finance, supply chain, and healthcare industry. There is no need to sign contracts or go through legal formalities to have a trustable data record.

Blockchain development services make it easier for companies to implement back-end processing for their business needs with the help of smart contract codes, which give businesses the freedom to utilize their own policies and rules.

Microservices Architecture

Microservices architecture breaks down applications into small, loosely coupled services, allowing developers to easily maintain, scale, and deploy. This architecture promotes agility and enables organizations to adapt quickly to changing business requirements.

Internet of Things (IoT)

We have reached the Internet of Things era, where smart devices control appliances, vehicles, buildings, and other devices connected over an Internet connection. With IoT applications having access to information on demand, there has been an increase in the demand for experts with knowledge of web application development.

Cloud Computing

In the current scenario, many companies have shifted to cloud-based application systems because of their cost efficiency. Web application development tools are used to write code which is then compiled and deployed in the cloud. Cloud computing offers high-quality services and can be accessed anywhere on any device.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is a technology that enables computers and machines to function similarly to humans. Machine learning has become a new trend as it automates routine tasks more easily and efficiently.

Metaverse

Unlike the current online environment that a few major corporations control, Metaverse is a virtual world that allows users to create their own digital assets and communicate with others. The Metaverse offers unlimited possibilities and doesn't limit us to what we see in reality. It allows people with technology skills to add new features and products using AR and VR technology.

Today, more businesses are focusing on utilizing artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and blockchain technology to give their web applications an edge over the competition. These latest web application development trends and technologies bring many opportunities for dedicated web developers to tap into.

Planning to Develop a Customized Application for Your Organization?

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How Can Radixweb Help You in Web App Development?Businesses mostly prefer web applications due to the advantages that they provide. A web application has emerged as a crucial resource for most industry giants. By reaching out to a larger audience, it continues to provide significant business support. Plus, web apps are becoming trendy because of their easy accessibility, cloud-server storage, and the tendency to run on any platform! To guide you in the best ways, our experts are here to help you with customized web application development services.At Radixweb, we create apps that are tailored to meet all of your company's needs. If you're currently implementing off-the-shelf apps that can't keep up or help your organization expand, our professionals can assist you with the best web app development services.