Website or web application? Start with what you want people to accomplish.
How to decide between a content-focused website and an interactive web application based on your goals.
The terms 'website' and 'web application' are often used interchangeably, but the distinction matters when deciding how to build your next project.
A website is often centered on communication
A website primarily helps people understand your business, discover information, and explore your services. Its main goal is to deliver structured content to the visitor.
A web application is often centered on interaction
A web application involves ongoing interaction, working with changing information, and performing repeat tasks. It's built to handle application state and complex workflows.
Many projects sit somewhere in between
The line isn't always sharp. A project might have informational content (website) combined with interactive tools (web application). The architecture should follow what the users need to do.
Questions that help define the right approach
Do users need to log in? Are they creating or managing data? Is the content the same for everyone? The answers to these questions help us determine if a website or a web application is the right fit.
Start with the outcome, not the label
Don't worry about the technical category. Focus on what you want people to accomplish, and we'll help you choose the architecture that makes it possible.
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