subject: Know the difference between a Web Page & Web Application [print this page] Know the difference between a Web Page & Web Application
Do you really know the difference between a Web Page and a Web Application? With the profusion of web applications appearing all over the Internet and Mobile worlds, it is time someone stepped in and wrote something that sheds some light on the two things. The expansion of the World Wide Web since the early 1990s has been truly amazing. Once simply a communication medium for scientists and researchers, its many and pervasivetentacles have spread deeply into businesses, organizations, and homes aroundthe world. Unlike earlier text-based and GUI systems that were developed and nurturedin an organization's Data Processing and Information Systems groups, the Web'sroots were sown in a market-driven society thirsting for convenience and information.Initially, Web interface design was essentially the design of navigation and the presentationof information. It was about content, not data. In recent years a second anddual focus has emerged the design of Web applications.
Applications previouslydeveloped for use on graphical systems have increasingly migrated to the Web fortheir foundation. Content-or information-focused interface design is typically calledWeb page design. An application-focused interface is usually referred to asWeb application design. Both styles share many similar features, both being heavily graphical andinformation rich. Significant differences exist as well, however. Web page interfacedesign is largely a matter of properly balancing the structure and relationships ofmenus, content, and other linked documents or graphics. The design goal is to build ahierarchy of menus and pages that feels natural, is well structured, is easy to use, andis truthful. The Web page is a navigation environment where people move frequentlybetween pages of information. A Web application is usually designed to collect andprocess data. Applications typically consume most or all of a screen, and can monopolizethe user's attention for a long period of time. Applications also may be kept upand running continuously.
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