What is the difference between a website and a web app? Websites exist solely to deliver static content using a collection of web pages, blogs, and downloadable items. There is very little interaction from the user’s end aside from contact forms, purchases, and emails. Additionally, websites rely on HTML to display text, images, tables, audio, and videos.
Like web apps, websites can be accessed on multiple operating systems and devices. But they can only be accessed through web browsers. The most common features included in websites include URLs, calls to action, blogs, contact forms, forums, and responsive designs.
Web apps overcome the functionality limitations of websites. They utilize databases to store and retrieve user information, so users can easily find the information they’re looking for. The data web apps collect provides a personalized and interactive user experience.
Unlike websites, web apps are dynamic and designed to always interact with users. For example, social media apps often notify users of interactions from other users. Additionally, notifications can be used to alert users of stories and posts that may interest them based on their prior interactions.
While websites can be built from scratch with minimal technical knowledge, web application development is far more sophisticated. It often requires a team of software developers to create a web app. For example, both websites and web apps may require CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. However, programming languages such as Ruby, PHP, and frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, Scriptcase, and Django are often the building blocks of web apps. That’s because the capabilities of web apps far exceed those of websites.