Almost everyone around the world has a mobile phone in their hands. Currently, 97% of Americans use mobile phones, of which 85% of the users are smartphone owners. Moreover, there are over 400 million active websites and web app users around the globe. The sheer number of internet users proves that web applications have a huge role in how businesses operate today.
What is a Web Application?
While we have all used web applications, the precise definition of the words still eludes many. At the most basic level, a Web application refers to an interactive app built with web development technologies that people can access through their browsers.
Web app development generally requires both front-end and back-end web development. The front-end needs languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Back-end web development includes using server-side languages like Ruby and Python to create web apps.
The Importance of Bespoke Web App Development for Better Customer Experience
On average, three hours and 43 minutes are an average adult’s daily time on their mobile phone. Generally, the time spent on the phone includes checking social media, email, the internet, entertainment, news, and online shopping.
The current competitive online environment has raised expectations. The users have a huge expectation from the businesses to provide the best services and offer consumers exceptional interactions with the brands online. Therefore, users are currently expecting performance flexibility across all online experiences.
Users use a web app to interact with the application through the browser. As browsers can open on various devices, developing multi-channel apps that interact with multiple platforms, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, or desktop computers, is possible. A good web app is responsive, meaning it will change size as per the device where it is open. One of the most common examples of responsive design in a web app is Google docs.
Why are Web Apps important for businesses?
When it comes to businesses, there is the option of having mobile or web apps. Both are important for your business, but a web app is essential for companies for the following reasons.
When you build a web application with a responsive interface, it gives users flexibility. They can use the application on the device of their choice. People can interact with the same application on the desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. So, they can avail of services on the device of their choice.
Unlike mobile apps, web apps do not require any downloads. It means that it takes less time for users to first interact with the website. If users cannot find a web app first, they are unlikely to download the mobile application because people usually only download things they already find interesting.
It is less expensive to develop and maintain web apps. They have some standard code and do not require native development. Hence, it generally costs less for businesses.
Lastly, businesses can get the web apps first to the market because it has less development time and can reach Android and Apple users.
Different Types of Web Apps to Build
Several different web applications are available online that we, as users, interact with daily. Here are different types of web apps that experts can build.
Static Web Apps:
Static web page apps are the first product of the internet. The app is prerendered and already has cached content that is sent to the users’ browsers. There is no personalization or interactivity. The marketing landing page is one common example of a static web page.
Dynamic Web Apps:
Dynamic web apps have service-side and client-side processing. The application helps generate code in real-time to change the display each time it refreshes or there is an addition of new input. Blogs are one of the common examples of Dynamic Web apps.
E-Commerce apps:
A dynamic web app that can open on your browser for shopping is an e-commerce app. These apps have a managed database of products. Big corporations like Amazon have both web and mobile apps for shopping.
Portal Web App:
One of the less commonly known types of the web application, but not less frequently used, is a portal web app. It is a web app that allows users access to a secured or gated area for service. Google is an example of a portal web app that offers services like search, email, etc.
Content Management System Web App:
A Content Management System (CMS) helps users create and publish their content without the need for technical knowledge. Some examples of CMS are WordPress and Canva.
Progressive Web App
The progressive web app (PWA) mimics a mobile app. Hence, it needs both mobile app development and web development practices to create a PWA.
Now that you understand what a web app is, the different kinds of web apps available to you, and their benefits. It is time to look at the steps to build a web app and its best practices.
Sequential Guide on How to Build Web Apps
The article will now focus on a step-by-step guide on developing web applications in 2022, which can include the development of simple web apps to more complex, dynamic, and interactive websites.
The Ideation Stage:
Every new product development goes through an ideation stage. Here, the developers are looking at the product delivery life cycle. In this stage, the focus is on creating user-centric, enthusiastic, and flexible ideas. When executed correctly, this stage ensures that the developers build a website app right web app correctly.
The idea stage includes generating ideas, researching, determining the core functionality, and creating the product’s unique selling point (USP).
The Ideation Process to Build Web Apps Includes Sourcing Ideas & Researching the Market
Sourcing an ideal includes a lot of random ideas thrown into a mix. These are foolproof. Their sole purpose is to exist. Brainstorming relies on finding solutions to the client’s problem and includes several raw ideas that the seniors can shortlist.
You look for solutions when a client comes to you with their pain points or needs as a cross-platform development provider. Firstly, the team needs to understand why the client came to them and create solutions that effectively resolve the problem.
In this stage, the developers will invest significant time researching the target market and competitors. The research helps determine how many people have similar issues and how others are solving the same problem. These insights help create better technical direction in developing web apps.
Once you have decided on the best idea, it is time to create a workflow to build web apps. It will help in the systematic progression of web app development.
Designing User Experience and User Interface Stage
Before you start with the actual development, first determine the UX and UI of the system by designing a web application. This step includes creating a prototype of your web app that lists all the different parts of the web application. The process gives an idea of how your application will look once it is complete. Moreover, the design will be the minimum viable product (MVP).
Designing a web app takes its own course. However, the process is crucial for a better user experience.
To make sure that you know features to keep in the beginning, you can follow the MoSCoW approach:
Mo — Must have features
S — Should have features
Co — Could have features
W — Won’t need features
Start the next step when you are satisfied with your generated prototype. To check if your product will get acceptance, introduce it to potential buyers and gather their feedback. Only start the next stage once you have approval from most of your preview audiences.
Development & Testing Stage
Once you have created the best prototype to solve the problem, it is time to start the development phase. DevOps can ensure maximum collaboration between the development and operations teams. It will help create the product, test it rapidly, and deliver it to the audience faster. Development is a continuous process that does not stop. However, once you have the product ready to an extent where it is ready for deployment, move to the next step.
Launch Stage
Once you have the minimum viable product, you can launch it to the general public. Host the web app on a web server and launch it. Take feedback from the users and make changes and upgrades to the web app for a better user experience. It can include limited features here because the developments will occur per the audience’s demands.
Final Words – Build Web Apps That Inspire
Building web apps takes a deep understanding of the IT sector. For the more complex web apps, you need the help of more than one developer who can focus on the project and several testers to ensure that the application runs appropriately.
The four major steps to build web apps are only here to create a workflow. However, the development and testing stage requires front-end and back-end development, along with knowledge of various programming languages, to ensure a final product that delivers. Hence, you will need professionals for the job.
In the end, you want to solve a problem for your potential clients, so let them have the final words once you are done creating the initial product. In time, the first deliverable might only exist in your memory, but the feedback will ensure that what you have now is much better.
FAQs
How to build web apps?
Non-programmers need the help of developers to build an app. However, whether you are making an app or paying someone to make one for you, here are the four major steps to follow.
- Ideation
- Designing
- Development
- Launch
How to Build Progressive Web Apps?
To build a progressive web app, start with creating an App manifest. Then, add the Manifest to Base HTML Template. Afterward, create offline Html as Alias to Index Html. Later, create and load the service worker and deploy the progressive web app. Now, it is ready for use.
Why build progressive web apps?
With the help of progressive web apps, you can get your applications installed directly on the user’s web without any app store. Your application will stay on the user’s desktop for easy access.
How can I create a web app?
To create a web app, you need to follow the following steps:
- Ideation
- Designing
- Development
- Launch
What is the best platform to build a web app?
Several platforms can work to build a web app. Some of the best platforms include:
- Angular JS
- ASP.NET
- Laravel
- Node
- Symfony
What does it cost to build a web app?
The cost of building a web app depends on the people you are working with and the intricacies you want to involve in the process. Generally, it can cost anywhere between $3000 to $15000.
What tools do I need to build a web app?
To build a web app, you need a web server, domain name, and server-side programming languages like PHP, JAVA, Python, Ruby, and server-side JavaScript. For Browser-side, use HTML or JavaScript. The tools you need to build web apps will change depending on the requirements and scale of the project.
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