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Application that uses a web browser as a client / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A web application (or web app) is application software that is accessed using a web browser.
Compared to downloaded applications, web applications are quicker to deploy and update because they can be accessed via a URL link. Additionally, they are compatible with a wider range of hardware and operating systems than other applications, and are often cheaper to develop. However, web applications often need an internet connection to work and have more limited functionality compared to native applications.
JavaScript was invented in 1995, enabling interactive web pages. Over time web application architecture has become more complex, with most featuring both a client and at least one server-side code base. Many technologies are used to build web applications, including JavaScript, Representational State Transfer (REST)—an interface for separating the client and server side of the application—and database software such as SQL to manage data regarding different users.
Web applications are vulnerable to various types of cyberattacks; defenses against malicious actors are incorporated into many. Web applications can be analyzed using functionality built into many popular web browsers, and third-party analytics are also available.