subject: What A Web Application Can Do [print this page] Web application is a computer application that is accessible over the Internet or an intranet within a local area. In popular notion, a web application is a software application run in a browser-controlled environment, like a Java applet, or coded in a browser-supported language, such as JavaScript, being combined with markup languages like HTML, and is dependent on a web browser to make the application work.
Web applications are very popular because of the readily-usable web browsers, and the handiness of using a web browser as client software, which would not need installers or licenses for the application to be legally used. Also, cross-platform compatibility is a main reason for their popularity, without having concerns with the operating systems or type of machines used as long as it has the required web browser and plugins in order to run desired web applications.
On the other hand, web applications are not limited into a single type of application. Types can range from simple static web pages to sophisticated and complex applications running within a simple browser. Different web application categories are grouped according to date and control complexity.
The first generation of web applications, brochure web applications, are composed of static web pages and dont have much programming features in them. The main focus of brochure web applications is to develop content and layout of text and graphic elements. Brochure web applications ushered modern web application architecture and design.
Service oriented applications are applications offered by some sites that contain programming logic needed to carry out simple tasks, such as webmail services or online word-processing applications. Data intensive applications, on the other hand, allow the browser to use an interface to browse and query large chunks of data. A typical example of this web application architecture is online library catalogues.
The fourth web application architecture are information system applications, which combine service oriented applications and data intensive applications which employs complex programming languages, data handling features and graphic interface, that resemble miniature operating systems running on web browsers. Electronic book stores or online banking are example of these web application types.
