Desktop application and web application

Desktop application and web application 

Desktop Application (APPs)

A desktop application means any software that can be installed on a single computer and used to perform specific task. The desktop apps are the application  software that runs stand-alone in a desktop or lapto computer. Some desktop appications can also be used by multiple users in a networked environment. In Windows, a desktop application is one that runs in the traditional Windows desktop in contrast to a tablet application that runs full screen.

 Advantages of desktop apps

Desktop applications usually have more control over a user's computer compared to a web application. Furthermore, desktop applications are often offline and do not need an Internet connection to function compared to a web application. From a software developer's perspective, traditionally we can access more computational resources from desktop apps since we are not using the web borrowser as the bridge, with its limitations. Desktop Applications are always offline, and can be run on any System interface provided it is designed to support major systems, as well as architectures. It gives user easy access to the software and its functionalities . Also, it is an executable program that need not be viewed over internet. It only needs to be installed on a computer to run as designed by the programmer or producer of the software system                                                                                                   

Disadvantages of desktop apps

The major disadvantages of desktop apps are that they must be installed seperately on each computer and they cannot be accessed and run through internet.

 Web Application (APPs)

Web  application is any computer program that performs a specific function by using a web browser as its client. It is also called as "web app" which is a software program that runs on a web server. Unlike traditional desktop applications, which are launched by the operating system, web apps must  be accessed through web browsers. The applications can be as simple as a message board or a contact form on a website or as complex as a word processor or a multi-player mobile gaming app that we download to our phone. Some examples of web apps with their purposes are listed below.

Web apps	Purpose
Google Docs	Create and save documents
Pirlr. Com	To edit and modify photo, image etc.
Codepen.io	To test and edit HTML documents
Netflix	To stream video platforms

 Features of Web applications (Web Apps)

The web applications provide various characteristic features . Some of the important one are discussed below.

·       Ease of use and updates

Web based applications are more convenient for the user in order to access and use any application from any location by using the facility of internet based applications. Update of web based applications is very easy by just installing updates on main client  server and each user received the update version of application.

·       Social Possibilities

Well based application provide online chat facilities with the relatives and friends as well as it also provide the facility to share the real and important work in time with other workers and collogues. People are becoming more and more social and want to work online and collaborate together and web based  applications allows these functions easily and accordingly.

·       Lowers the Cost of Sales

Web based application are mostly used for the promotion of various online product. Various online websites use web application in order to increase their online sale of various products. In web based applications we do not need to make boxes, print manuals, no distribution channel as well as no any middle man needed for the sales of products.

·       Multiple Platforms

One of the most effective, attractive and significant features of web based applications is that they work on the multiple platforms easily and accordingly. Mostly the web based application works on different web borrowsers such as Opera, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer  etc.

·       Security

Web based applications are more exposed to security risk than desktop applications. In a single computer such as laptop or desktop the user have total control over the applications alone and can protect it from vulnerabilities. While in web based application there are large number of user on internet community, thus widening the threats.

·       Require Little Disc Space

Web  based applications usually require little disc space because are best low end computers. In web based applications the data is stored remotely. One of the most exciting features is that web based applications are virus free because these are not installed in a computer.

 

Differences between web apps and desktop apps

Web Applications (Apps)	Desktop Applications (Apps)
Web applications need Internet to access and update.	Desktop apps do not need Internet to use and update.
Web applications need to be installed in server only once.	Desktop apps are to be installed separately on each computer.
Web applications are internet dependent so absence of Internet or poor connectivity can cause performance issues.	Desktop applications are standalone in nature and hence do not face any barrier resulting from Internet connectivity.
Web applications cost more bandwidth.	Desktop applications cost less bandwidth.