Web application: Difference between revisions
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{{quotation|In software engineering, a Web application or webapp is an application that is accessed via web over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_application Wikipedia], retrieved 15: | {{quotation|In software engineering, a Web application or webapp is an application that is accessed via web over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_application Wikipedia], retrieved 15:38, 15 September 2007 (MEST))}}. | ||
Web applications are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers. One can update and maintain Web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers. Web applications are used to implement [[portalware]] (e.g. [[learning management system]]s), [[rich internet application]]s, [[wiki]]s, Webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, [[Forum]]s, [[Weblog]]s, [[MMORPG]]s and many other. | Web applications are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers. One can update and maintain Web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers. Web applications are used to implement [[portalware]] (e.g. [[learning management system]]s), [[rich internet application]]s, [[wiki]]s, Webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, [[Forum]]s, [[Weblog]]s, [[MMORPG]]s and many other. | ||
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== Software == | == Software == | ||
{{quotation|Though many variations are possible, a Web application is commonly structured as a three-tiered application. In its most common form, a Web browser is the first tier, an engine using some dynamic Web content technology (such as ASP, ASP.NET, CGI, ColdFusion, JSP/Java, PHP, Python, or Ruby On Rails) is the middle tier, and a database is the third tier. The Web browser sends requests to the middle tier, which services them by making queries and updates against the database and generates a user interface.}} ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_application Wikipedia], retrieved 15: | {{quotation|Though many variations are possible, a Web application is commonly structured as a three-tiered application. In its most common form, a Web browser is the first tier, an engine using some dynamic Web content technology (such as ASP, ASP.NET, CGI, ColdFusion, JSP/Java, PHP, Python, or Ruby On Rails) is the middle tier, and a database is the third tier. The Web browser sends requests to the middle tier, which services them by making queries and updates against the database and generates a user interface.}} ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_application Wikipedia], retrieved 15:38, 15 September 2007 (MEST). | ||
web client - engine - database | web client - engine - database | ||
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See [[database]] | See [[database]] | ||
== In education == | |||
Web applications are hugely popular in education, in particular to support [[e-learning]] through various kinds of [[portalware]], e.g. [[learning management system]]s. | |||
Web applications are also used in classroom teaching, e.g. trough [[wiki]]s, [[weblog]]s or web-based [[microworld]]s such as [[WISE]]. See [[Technology-enhanced classroom]]. | |||
[[Category: Technologies]] | [[Category: Technologies]] | ||
[[Category: Portalware]] | [[Category: Portalware]] | ||
Revision as of 15:38, 15 September 2007
<pageby nominor="false" comments="false"/>
“In software engineering, a Web application or webapp is an application that is accessed via web over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. (Wikipedia, retrieved 15:38, 15 September 2007 (MEST))”.
Web applications are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers. One can update and maintain Web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers. Web applications are used to implement portalware (e.g. learning management systems), rich internet applications, wikis, Webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, Forums, Weblogs, MMORPGs and many other.
Software
“Though many variations are possible, a Web application is commonly structured as a three-tiered application. In its most common form, a Web browser is the first tier, an engine using some dynamic Web content technology (such as ASP, ASP.NET, CGI, ColdFusion, JSP/Java, PHP, Python, or Ruby On Rails) is the middle tier, and a database is the third tier. The Web browser sends requests to the middle tier, which services them by making queries and updates against the database and generates a user interface.” (Wikipedia, retrieved 15:38, 15 September 2007 (MEST).
web client - engine - database
Web clients
There exist different kinds of web clients:
- Most often, web clients are web browsers and contents are displayed with HTML or XHTML and styled with [[CSS]. Dynamic elements are added trough the use of HTML forms and JavaScript.
- Web browsers support many plugins who often also can directly communicate with a server, e.g. Flash or Java Applets
More recent software evolution allows to create web applications that have a look and feel that is almost indistinguisable from traditional applications. They are known as rich internet applications or web 2.0 applications.
Note: Other software also can connect to the Internet, e.g. Mail clients or computer games, but we wouldn't call these web applications.
Engines
Engines are programmed either directly with scripting languages such as PHP, Python or ASP or by using web application framework that facilitate development and integrate tools (e.g. high-level description languages) for all tiers involved.
Databases
See database
In education
Web applications are hugely popular in education, in particular to support e-learning through various kinds of portalware, e.g. learning management systems.
Web applications are also used in classroom teaching, e.g. trough wikis, weblogs or web-based microworlds such as WISE. See Technology-enhanced classroom.