Overview of Web Applications

1) What is Web Application?
2) What are Popular Web Browsers?
3) Types of Web Applications
4) Software Technologies for Web Development and Use

Nowadays most of the Computer Software Applications are Web Applications, Web Applications usage is growing day by day, so Information Technology Professionals need to familiar with Web Applications, especially Software Developer, and Software Testers.

1) What is Web Application?

A Web Application or Web App is Software that runs on a Web Server. Unlike traditional desktop applications, which are launched by a Web Browser.

In order to access/use any Software Application (Desktop or Web Application) Operating System is required/mandatory.

If it is Desktop Application like Notepad or Acrobat Reader we can launch those applications from the Operating System, just switch on the Computer, and after booting the System we can operate Desktop Applications. If it is Web Application Boot the System, launch a Browser and navigate to Web Application by typing the URL of the Web Application in the Browser Address bar, then access the Application, at end close the browser.

2) What are Popular Web Browsers?

A Computer Program/Software with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the Web Applications (Intranet and Internet).

Popular Computer Browsers

i) Google Chrome: It was released in 2008, its market share approximately 68%
ii) Mozilla Firefox: It was released in 2004, its market share approximately 19%
iii) Internet Explorer: It was released in 1995, its market share approximately 6.5%

3) Types of Web Applications

i) Types of Web Applications by usage

a) Intranet Application

It is a private web application, can be accessed within the Organization only using LAN (Local Area Network), It uses Local /Private Network and Internet Protocol technology to share information.

b) Internet Application

It is a public web application, uses Wide area network to share information as well as for business Operations and it can be accessed from anywhere using
Internet protocols.

c) Extranet Application

It is also a private application over internet, can be accessed by fixed machines
only. It uses Wide area network and Internet Protocol technology to share
information and business operations.