For any individual or online venture, an app is a useful tool that connects a brand with its customers. These applications aid not only in enhancing audience engagement and communication but also in increasing sales, collecting analytics, and so on.
Nowadays, web and cloud applications are gaining a lot of traction. And thus, choosing the right kind of app, design, and the platform to launch it is imperative for the success of your business.
So, do you want to turn your idea into reality but are confused between web and cloud app?
Don’t fret! Here, we have explained the in-depth meaning, benefits and differences of both these platforms to help you make the right decision.
Let’s dive in!
What is a Web App?
A web-based application or web app is a computer program designed to run on web browsers. Web applications are created through the combination of server-side scripts (PHP, .Net) and client-side calligraphy, like HTML, JavaScript, and Adobe Flash. You can operate these applications through an internet connection from anywhere due to its computing model.
Apps used by online services, like online banking, e-ticketing, online shopping, eBay, etc., are some examples of web applications.
The benefits of web applications include:
- Web apps are accessible from anywhere, anytime, and through any web browser.
- These apps are cross-platform compatible, which means they run on multiple platforms irrespective of the operating system or device.
- Customers are not required to download these apps.
- They eliminate issues like piracy as the client data is not stored.
- Web apps reduce costs for both the business and end-user as less support and maintenance is required from the developer’s end.
What are Cloud Apps?
A cloud application is an advanced version of a web application, but it is not entirely dependent upon web browsers. When it comes to how cloud applications work, these apps operate through cloud data and offer a plethora of services to users, such as storage, security, backup, and more. Furthermore, cloud applications are developed through the integration of standard web applications and traditional desktop applications.
Google, Microsoft, Zoho, Dropbox, Facebook, Slack are some common examples of cloud applications.
Cloud apps come with the following benefits:
- The data in cloud-based applications are stored in the cloud, which can be accessed offline.
- They reduce management efforts and eliminate service provider interaction.
- Cloud apps cater to the physical and virtual needs of multiple users at the same time.
- Customers are not required to buy any software but pay only for the services. Besides, the pricing depends on the actual usage of the service only.
- Even without downloading or installing the software, customers can fully utilize its functionalities.
Difference between Web Apps and Cloud Apps
Both web and cloud apps are similar in terms of usage, but differ in the following aspects:
1. Technology
Web applications are associated with early web technologies and are developed in back-end languages, such as PHP, .Net, Python, and Ruby, and remote databases, like MySQL, SQL Server, etc. To enhance the front-end user experience, JS and its frameworks, like AJAX and JQuery, are used.
Cloud-based applications, on the other hand, also require back-end frameworks, but at the same time JavaScript frameworks, such as Angular, React.js, etc. Its HTML5 offline caching feature allows users to access the app without internet connectivity.
2. Multi-tenancy
Multi-tenancy is a mode of operation in which single software and its supporting infrastructure cater to the needs of multiple customers. Each tenant is isolated and is invisible to one another.
The multi-tenancy ability does not support web apps as they don’t serve the varying requirements of multiple users. Cloud apps, on the contrary, help various customers’ requisites and thus are designed with the feature of multi-tenancy.
3. Costing
Costing is another crucial point of distinction between web and cloud apps. Designing and developing a web app that works both offline and online is quite expensive as compared to traditional browser-only web applications
While the size of team building the cloud apps is always more significant than the team size used in web apps, this makes developing cloud apps a costlier affair than that of web apps.
4. Uses
Since web apps operate in the browser only through an active internet connection, they are usually preferred for transactional applications, such as cab applications, e-commerce sites, booking services, and more.
On the other hand, cloud apps work partially or fully offline. These apps are great when it comes to high computations or places where internet connectivity is low.
Wrapping up
To sum up, both web and cloud-based applications offer different uses depending on the nature of the business, team size, and budget. Hence, it is crucial to select wisely and develop an application you need as per your specific business requirements. You can also take help of various mobile or web app development services that can assist you in understanding the distinction between the two as well as choosing the right platform according to your professional needs.
