What are Web Applications?

Web applications are software applications that run on a web server and can be accessed through a web browser. Unlike traditional desktop applications, web applications are platform-independent and can be used on any device with an internet connection. They are built using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Key Features of Web Applications

Web applications offer a variety of features that make them advantageous for users and developers alike:

• Accessibility: Users can access web applications from any device with a browser.
• Updates: Developers can easily update the application without requiring users to download new versions.
• Cost-Effective: Web applications can reduce development costs due to their cross-platform capabilities.
• Scalability: Web applications can be easily scaled to accommodate more users and features.

Basic Structure of a Web Application

A typical web application consists of three main components:

• Front-end: This is the user interface that users interact with. It is built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Back-end: This is the server-side logic that processes requests and interacts with the database. It can be developed using languages like Node.js, Python, Ruby, or PHP.
• Database: This stores the data for the application. Common databases include MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.

Here’s a simple example of how these components interact:

Building a Simple Web Application

Let’s create a simple web application that allows users to submit their names and receive a greeting. We will use HTML for the front-end and JavaScript for the interaction.

1. HTML Structure

Create an HTML file called index.html:

    
    
    


    
Greeting App
    

        
        Greet Me!