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Some people will understandably assume that everything that runs on a web browser is a “website”. But this is not the case. A web application, which is also accessible via a web browser, is very different from a traditional website. Websites used to be just a collection of web pages that provide information to users. However, things have changed. Desktop-like web applications are now all over the web. In fact, almost any desktop software can be developed as a web-based application. On a side note, the amount of time and effort it takes to build a website is obviously nowhere near what it takes to create a web application.

What is a website?

A website is a collection of publicly accessible, interlinked web pages that share a single domain name. The primary purpose for some websites is to present, share, or display information or content online.

Purposes of websites

An organization or individual may want to build and maintain a website for multiple reasons, such as the following:

• Present information about an organization or individual to a global audience.
• Showcase products and services
• Grow a business and brand
• Obtain credibility as the website can demonstrate achievements and goals.
• Collect donations from users

Types of websites

Websites can be broadly categorized into two: static or dynamic.

1. Static websites

A static website displays the same information to every user of the website. There are no dynamic data that change based on certain criteria; for example, no such thing as a logged in user’s username, or number of items on shopping cart of an e-commerce website. These websites can be built using simple programming languages such as HTML and CSS, and perhaps, some JavaScript. A static website will remain the same unless a developer goes into the code to manually change what users should see.

2. Dynamic websites

Dynamic websites can display different data to different users of the same website. Examples of dynamic websites include e-commerce sites like amazon.com and blogs. A dynamic website contains content that can change depending on factors like the current logged in user, the native language of the user’s country, the time of the day, the time zone, etc. Dynamic websites’ contents can change because they are not stored directly on the page. A developer is not required in order to make a change to most, if not all, of the contents on a dynamic website. The contents of dynamic site (text/images) are stored on a content management system (CMS) or a database. Dynamic websites can be built using web programming languages and concepts like AJAX, PHP, Python, ASP.Net, etc.

What is a web application?

A web application (or web app, for short) is a software usable on the internet. Unlike a desktop software, you don’t have to have access to a particular device in order to use a web-available software. A web application software can be used anywhere, on any device, so long as that device runs a web browser and has access to the internet. A good example of a web app accessible online is the online photo editor, photopea, which is a web-based photo and graphics editor. The desktop app alternative would be the Adobe Photoshop software, which you need to download and install on a device. Another good example is the Gmail email service freely provided by Google. There are examples all over the place nowadays. So, while websites provide a collection of information (in the form of texts, images, videos, documents, etc.) to users, web applications actually engage users.

Web apps are indeed unique because they are neither traditional websites nor deskop/mobile apps, but feature their benefits; that is, they are accessible anywhere via a web browser like websites and are actually software programs that engage users just like desktop/mobile apps.

Purposes/Benefits of web applications

There are severals reasons why an organization or business may want to opt for a web application, including the following:

1. Accessible anywhere

With web apps, customers can have access to the same services that they would if they were visiting a physical store, such as booking appointments and purchasing items. This is great for customers who do not live close to the phycical store, as they can still get access to all of the same information and services.

If a business is looking to expand into different markets or get their product or service out to a wider audience, a web application is a great way to achieve this. Web apps can be accessed from anywhere in the world and therefore allow people from any country to use the services that a business provides. This includes providing workplace access to a distributed workforce. Remote employees can use web apps to communicate and collaborate asynchronously.

2. Able to provide self-service capabilities (instead of customer service)

One very important benefit a web application has over a website is that they offer the potential to offer self-service products to customers. With a web app, customers are able to complete tasks that would otherwise require customer-service help. Let’s take an electric utility company, for example; many customers may have questions about their bills. While this service is something that most customers may need assistance with, it is also something that can be completed without any human interaction at all if they use the utility company’s web application to manage their bills. This is not possible with a standard website.

3. Increased flexibility and scalability

A company’s web presence must keep up with the business as it grows and changes, whether that is adding new locations or adjusting to meet efficiency demands, etc. Web-based applications allow for the easy addition of new features as well as integrations with other systems. Cloud servers enable you to increase computing capacity and storage as needed.

4. Streamlined business processes

Web-based applications make it easier to collaborate on projects and share data. Users are able to interact in the same environment since data is stored in the cloud. Web applications are particularly important for businesses that perform lots of data-driven tasks. With web applications, computing power is typically facilitated in the cloud, thereby reducing the need for onsite hardware.

5. Easier deployment and maintenance

With web applications, deployments and maintenance are less complicated. Once the web-based software is deployed on the host server, users can access it via a URL. Updates to web applications are applied through the host server without requiring each device to be updated individually. This is unlike mobile or desktop apps that require every user to download and install the update. With web apps, all users access the same version at all times.

Given that upgrades are performed only by experienced professionals to a single server, the results are more predictable and reliable. The system remains consistent.

6. Increased Security

With web-based applications, security is tighter as they are typically deployed on dedicated servers, which are monitored and maintained by experienced server administrators.

Summary

Hopefully, this article has cleared any doubt as to why websites are considered different from web applications.

The primary purpose of some websites is simply to present or share information or content online. Web applications, on the other hand, are very different. They are similar to desktop applications that engage users; they are actual software programs made accessible on the internet so that anyone from anywhere around the globe with access to any device connected to the internet can utilize the same web application. From the financial services industry to healthcare to telecommunications, etc., web applications can be integrated into just about any business operation to create better experiences for customers.

Software Territory designs, builds, and maintains various types of websites and web applications that our customers love. Our customer-centric approach and commitment to continuous discovery and delivery give our customers control over the scope of a project as it evolves.

Numerous surveys and statistics around the world show that JavaScript is the most used and popular programming language in the world. There must be a reason for this. This article explores the reason behind this consistent outcome.

Just about every computing device today runs JavaScript:

• Mobile devices like iPhones, Androids, etc.
• Computer operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, Linux.
• Smart TVs

JavaScript (JS) is a cross-platform, high-level, object-oriented programming language. It is the only viable option software developers have to make web pages interactive. Most applications and functions that make the Internet indispensable to modern life today were developed with some form JavaScript. It is JavaScript that enables software developers to dynamically update webpage content, control multimedia, use animations, pop-up menus, clickable buttons, etc.

Also, JavaScript can be used both on the client-side and on the server-side. This is one main reason for its popularity.

On the client-side, while HTML and CSS languages are used to give structure and style to web pages, JavaScript is needed to add interactive elements that engage users. Webpages will be static without JavaScript.

On the server-side, multiple programming languages can be used, such as PHP, C#, Ruby, Python, and JavaScript (Node.js). With Node.js, you can add server-side functionalities to your applications using JavaScript (JS). Node.js is the game-changer here. It is what enables software developers to use JavaScript as a server-side language, effectively transforming JavaScript from frontend-only use to full-stack (both frontend and backend). Note that prior to the advent of Node.js in 2009, JavaScript was known as a frontend-only programming language.

JavaScript for App Development

When creating applications with JavaScript, software engineers have the options to either code in plain/vanilla JavaScript or use some JavaScript-based framework (and there are so many of them, thanks to JavaScript’s popularity). Vanilla JavaScript should be the first choice for smaller projects. For example, if a developer needs to write simple code to manipulate the DOM in the browsers, they can do it with Vanilla JavaScript.

Actually, vanilla JavaScript should naturally be the first option because there is generally some upfront development environment setup involved in using JavaScript frameworks. With Vanilla JavaScript, you don’t need to go through all the initial environment setup complexities; you just hook up your JavaScript file to your HTML file and you’re good to go.

However, for complex web or mobile application development, JavaScript frameworks are the way to go. This is because while there may be some initial complexities involved in setting up a JavaScript framework’s development environment, things do get simpler in the long run with such setups.

The whole point of a JavScript framework is to simplify work and save time, by pre-implementing everything from vanilla JavaScript, so that software developers only focus on development tasks that are relevant to the product being build. In other words, a JavaScript framework is a bunch of pre-written JavaScript code that allows for easier development of JavaScript-based web or mobile applications.

There are various JavaScript frameworks out there that can very well be used to build robust web and mobile applications. Popular ones that immediately come to mind are Angular, React, React Native, NativeScript, and Vue.

Summary

Hopefully, this article has helped throw some light into why Software Territory is so much into JavaScript application development. Software Territory makes use of JavaScript frontend frameworks like Angular, React or Vue for suitable projects.

What is SaaS?

Software as a Service, commonly known as SaaS, refers to the method of providing applications via the Internet as a service. These applications are often called web-based, on-demand, or hosted software.

SaaS operates as a cloud-based delivery model, enabling the applications to run on the servers of SaaS providers rather than requiring installation and maintenance of software on-site. The responsibility for managing application access, including security, availability, and performance, lies with the SaaS provider.

Here are some examples of popular SaaS products:

• Salesforce: A leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform that helps businesses manage sales, customer service, marketing, and more.
• Google Workspace: A suite of productivity and collaboration tools, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Meet.
• Microsoft Office 365: A subscription-based version of Microsoft Office, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other productivity tools.
• Slack: A messaging and collaboration platform that facilitates organizational communication and teamwork.
• Zoom: A video conferencing solution for hosting meetings, webinars, and online events.
• Mailchimp: An email marketing service that allows businesses to design, send, and track email campaigns.
• Shopify: An e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage online stores.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: A suite of creative software applications for graphic design, photography, video editing, and more, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.
• HubSpot: An all-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and customer service platform.
• Dropbox: A cloud-based file storage and sharing service that allows users to access their files from any device.

How does software as a service work?

The operation of Software as a Service (SaaS) is based on the cloud delivery model. A software provider hosts the application and its related data either on its own servers, databases, networking and computing resources, or it may outsource the hosting to a cloud provider. This makes the application accessible from any device connected to the internet and is typically accessed through web browsers.

As a result, companies using SaaS applications are relieved from the responsibilities of setting up and maintaining the software. Instead, they pay a subscription fee to access the ready-made solution. SaaS is similar to the Application Service Provider (ASP) and on-demand computing software delivery models, where the provider hosts the customer’s software and delivers it over the internet to authorized end users.

In the software-on-demand SaaS model, the provider offers customers network-based access to a single copy of the application, which was specifically designed for SaaS distribution. The application’s source code is identical for all customers, and new features and functionalities are available to all customers as soon as they are released. The location of the customer’s data may be stored locally, in the cloud, or both, depending on the Service-Level Agreement (SLA).

Organizations can integrate SaaS applications with other software through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). For instance, a business can develop its own software tools and use the SaaS provider’s APIs to link those tools with the SaaS offering.

Characteristics of Software as a Service (SaaS):

• Multi-Tenant Architecture in SaaS: The multi-tenant architecture in SaaS refers to a system where all clients of the SaaS vendor and their applications share a common infrastructure and code base that is managed and maintained centrally. This architecture enables SaaS vendors to innovate faster and save time on development that would have been spent on maintaining outdated code.
• Easy Customization in SaaS: Users can easily customize applications to meet their business needs without impacting the shared infrastructure. The SaaS model supports individual user and company customizations and preserves them during regular upgrades. This means that SaaS providers can make upgrades more frequently with lower risk and adoption costs for customers.
• Improved Accessibility from Networked Devices: The SaaS model allows businesses to access data remotely from any networked device, making it easier to manage permissions, monitor data usage, and ensure multiple users can view the same information at the same time.
• SaaS Adopts the Consumer Web: Individuals familiar with websites like Amazon.com or My Yahoo! will recognize the web interface of typical SaaS applications. The SaaS model enables easy customization with point-and-click simplicity, making the traditional process of updating business software, which can take weeks or months, seem outdated.

SaaS Benefits:

Software as a Service (SaaS) offers a number of benefits to businesses and individuals looking for efficient and cost-effective solutions for their software needs. Some of the key benefits of SaaS include:

1. Accessibility: SaaS applications can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it possible for businesses to work from anywhere and for remote employees to access the same information and tools as those working in the office.
2. Cost Savings: SaaS eliminates the need for businesses to purchase, install, and maintain expensive software and hardware. Instead, customers pay a monthly or annual fee for access to the software, which is hosted and maintained by the SaaS provider.
3. Scalability: SaaS is designed to be highly scalable, making it easy for businesses to add or remove users and adjust the amount of storage they need, as their needs change over time.
4. Ease of Use: SaaS applications are designed to be user-friendly, with simple interfaces and intuitive navigation. This makes it easier for businesses to get started using the software and for employees to be productive right away.
5. Regular Upgrades: SaaS providers are responsible for maintaining the software and providing regular upgrades to ensure that it remains up-to-date and functional. This eliminates the need for businesses to spend time and resources upgrading their software.
6. Integration: SaaS applications can be integrated with other software, making it possible for businesses to create a seamless workflow across multiple tools and systems.
7. Flexibility: SaaS applications are highly customizable, making it possible for businesses to tailor them to meet their specific needs and requirements.

Future prospect of SaaS:

The future of Software as a Service (SaaS) looks bright, as more and more businesses are embracing this delivery model for their software needs. SaaS has already proven to be a cost-effective and flexible solution for businesses of all sizes, and its popularity is only expected to grow in the coming years.

One of the key drivers of the growth of SaaS is the increasing demand for cloud computing. As businesses look for ways to reduce their IT costs and increase their flexibility, SaaS offers a compelling solution. With SaaS, businesses can access the latest software and technology without having to invest in expensive hardware and infrastructure.

Another factor contributing to the growth of SaaS is the rise of mobile devices and the increasing use of the internet. As more people use smartphones and other mobile devices to access the web, the demand for SaaS applications that can be used on these devices will only increase. This will drive innovation in the SaaS space, as providers look for ways to create applications that are optimized for mobile devices.

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is another trend that is likely to shape the future of SaaS. As these technologies become more advanced, SaaS providers will be able to create applications that can learn from user behavior and automate tasks, making it possible for businesses to be more productive and efficient.

In conclusion, the future of SaaS looks bright, as more and more businesses embrace this delivery model for their software needs. With the growth of cloud computing, the increasing use of mobile devices, and the rise of AI and ML, SaaS is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of technology. Businesses that adopt SaaS will be well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of the latest advancements in software and technology.

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Software Territory is a leading software development company that specializes in providing Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. With a focus on delivering efficient and cost-effective software applications, we empower businesses to streamline their operations, enhance productivity, and embrace the future of software delivery. Our cutting-edge SaaS products are designed to meet the diverse needs of modern enterprises across various industries.