What is a web application?
Channel: internet-class
Date: 2016-10-27

The rise of JavaScript has seen the rise of so-called web applications, also called web apps or sometimes single-page web apps. The distinction between a web page and a web app is somewhat fuzzy. In general, web apps do not follow earlier patterns of interaction with the web server. The user is typically on the same web page for long periods of time, even though the display may change as they interact with the page. Rather than having the web browser generate HTTP requests and reload the page, JavaScript code is used to interact with the server in the background and update the display as needed.

Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).

Part of the https://www.internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.