With the increasing number of mobile phones and the creation of applications, our personal routine as well as several working methods are changing. Indeed, people use some terms like web application and mobile application. However, it can be difficult to tell the difference. Let’s look together at the distinction between the various types of applications.
What is a web application?
Web applications are applications that use the internet directly using a web browser. Therefore, the web application must be consulted from the web browser, so no download is necessary. Web applications are therefore software accessible through web browsers. They are accessible on all platforms, including mobile platforms.
What is a mobile application?
A mobile application is software that is use mobile devices.For several years, mobile apps were a must-download application. But the variety of application types has evolved a lot since then. So much so that it is increasingly considered that a mobile App designer Dubai can be either web-based or downloaded.
To distinguish between the two types, download applications are often call “native”. In this case, a mobile application must be download from an online store such as the App Store or Google Play Store.
Comparison between web application and mobile application
If we compare web applications and “native”, web applications are generally faster and easier to create. In terms of accessibility, the web application will not require any installation unlike the “native” mobile application which requires a download via a virtual store such as the App Store or Google Play Store.
In addition, web applications can be “responsive” or adaptive, which means adapted to all screen formats; they can then be consult from tablets and mobile phones. A web application can even be design in “mobile first”, therefore design specifically or especially for smartphones. These web applications are therefore also mobile applications, which is not the case for a mobile App Development Company Dubai.
As for the native mobile application, it can only be view by tablets and phones. Finally, in terms of cost, the “native” mobile application is more expensive to maintain and update.
The PWA application
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web application that combines the functionalities of web browsers with those of mobile devices. It uses the best methods of the web to transmit them to the mobile and thus demonstrates the great capacity of the mobile web. Therefore, a PWA web application can also be consider a mobile application since it can use several functions that downloaded applications use. They are also called “new mobile applications”. They can be installed on the home screen of a mobile device as a shortcut, exactly like a “native” application.
Thanks to advanced caching features, once the content has been viewed for the first time, it is possible to view certain content offline. In short, the big difference is that the PWA application cannot be a native application since it cannot be developed and published on virtual stores.
Web application advantage
Using a web application brings several advantages for a company. Indeed, thanks to the creation of a web application, there will be a gain in efficiency. For example, data security, connecting several systems, being able to better monitor standards, increase productivity and many others. In addition, using a web application can increase sales and promote better management. In addition, the application can help with manipulations that are sometimes too heavy on a “native” mobile application.
Finally, the mobile app development company in dubai is often more economical, adapted to most mobile devices. While providing many of the features used by “native” applications. Updates are seamless and only require a refresh of the web page.