WebApp

A web application, or webapp, is a software application accessible via a web browser over a network. Unlike static websites, webapps provide interactive features, process data, and communicate with servers to fetch or store information. They run on a web server and are delivered to the client over HTTP/HTTPS, with the browser acting as the user interface.

Architecture commonly involves a client-side component that runs in the browser (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and a server-side component that handles business logic and data storage. Communication typically occurs through APIs, such as REST or GraphQL. Data persistence is achieved in databases, and additional layers like caching, load balancing, and authentication services support scalability and reliability.

Web applications use a variety of technologies and patterns. Frontend frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue enable rich user interfaces; backend languages include Java, Python, Node.js, PHP, and Ruby. Rendering can be server-side, client-side, or a mix (hybrid). Progressive web apps extend web apps with offline capabilities and installability, while single-page applications load most code once and update the UI dynamically.

Development involves design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Common concerns include security (authentication, authorization, input validation, protections against XSS and CSRF), performance (lazy loading, caching), scalability, and accessibility.

Typical use cases include enterprise software, e-commerce platforms, collaboration tools, content management systems, and software-as-a-service offerings. Webapps are often compared with native mobile apps and desktop software, with trade-offs in distribution, cross-platform reach, and access to device features.