Web application

Web Application

A web application is a software application that runs on a web server, unlike computer software programs that are run locally on the operating system (OS) of the device. Web applications are accessed by the user through a web browser with an active network connection.

A screenshot of a web application interface

Web applications are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers, and the convenience of using a web browser as a client, sometimes referred to as a thin client. Common web applications include webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, wikis, instant messaging services, and many other functions.

Architecture

Web applications typically use a combination of server-side scripts (such as PHP, ASP.NET, and Java) and client-side scripts (such as JavaScript and HTML) to develop the application. The client-side script deals with the presentation of the information, while the server-side script deals with all the hard stuff like storing and retrieving the information.

Client-Side

The client-side of a web application is the part that the user interacts with. It is developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These technologies allow developers to create dynamic and interactive user interfaces.

Server-Side

The server-side of a web application is responsible for the business logic and data storage. It is developed using server-side languages such as PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, and Node.js. The server-side code runs on a web server and communicates with the client-side to deliver the web application.

Development

Web application development is the process of creating application programs that reside on remote servers and are delivered to the user's device over the Internet.

Frameworks

Developers use web application frameworks to build web applications. These frameworks provide a standard way to build and deploy web applications on the World Wide Web. Popular frameworks include Django, Ruby on Rails, AngularJS, and React.

Testing

Testing is a crucial part of web application development. It involves checking the application for bugs, usability, and performance issues. Testing can be done manually or using automated tools.

Security

Web application security is a branch of information security that deals specifically with the security of websites, web applications, and web services. At a high level, web application security draws on the principles of application security but applies them specifically to Internet and web systems.

Common Threats

Some common threats to web applications include SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). These threats can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and other security breaches.

Related Pages

• Web server
• Web browser
• HTML
• JavaScript
• PHP