SALCEDO, Joshua D.
CITCS 2K | CC14
Web Application Development
Exploring web app development
The significance of web applications in the digital world.
Web applications are programs that run on the internet; it does not have the need to be installed in
any devices. (Sturm et al., 2017). Just like any other software applications, web applications allow
users to interact with and perform tasks over the web. Examples include learning platform services like
canvas and google classroom, and online payment services like AliPay, Paypal, and the ever awfully
unreliable Gcash that goes offline whenever an emergency arise. The significance of web
applications lies on their accessibility as they can be accessed on any device with an internet
connection, making them essential for Realtime use like communication, business, and
entertainment.
The Evolution of Web Development: From Static Web Pages to Dynamic Web Applications.
Fascinating how we’re able to evolve from rubbing sticks to produce fire for warmth to having the
power to control the temperature within the comfort of your home with just a press of a button.
Science.
Anyway, in the infancy days of the web, websites are static—they’re a like a book with interactions
bound by every turn of the page. These static websites are developed using simple html. As humanity
further pushes the technological boundary, web developers started creating dynamic web
applications which are more interactive and may change based on the user input. With the birth of
database and the development of programming languages like JavaScript, web applications
became more engaging making them a core part of the modern web.
To further appreciate the vast difference between a static website and a dynamic website, I have
created a simple comparison between the two:
Static Websites vs Dynamic Websites
Static Websites:
A static website is made up of fixed content, meaning the same page will be shown to every
user. It’s typically easier and faster to build. However, it lacks interactivity, and any change
requires manual editing of the HTML code.
Dynamic Websites:
A dynamic website can display different content based on user actions or other data (like
logging in or viewing a personalized dashboard). It often uses databases and server-side
programming to change the content shown to each user. Dynamic websites are more
complex but offer a richer, more personalized user experience. (GeekforGeeks, 2022).
Different Tools Used for Developing Web Applications
Here are a handful of the most commonly, if not the only, used tools for web application
development-
HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Used to structure the content of a web page. HTML defines
elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and links. (W3Schools.com, n.d.).
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): CSS is used for styling the visual presentation of a web page, such as
layout, colors, fonts, and spacing.
JavaScript: JavaScript adds interactivity to web pages, enabling actions like form validation,
animations, and real-time updates without needing to reload the page. (Fruhlinger, 2024).
React: A JavaScript library used to build user interfaces. React helps developers create dynamic and
responsive web applications with reusable components. (W3Schools.com, n.d.). Lastly,
Node.js: A JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to run JavaScript on the server
side, enabling full-stack JavaScript development. (Nodejs.org, n.d.).
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: Their Uses and How They're Used to Build Web Applications
According to Knight (2023), HTML serves as the foundation for the web application. It creates the
structure of the web page, organizing text, images, and other content into a layout. CSS on the other
hand controls how the content looks. It’s used to style the HTML elements, such as changing font
sizes, colors, and arranging content into grids or flex layouts. This makes the website look appealing
and user-friendly. Lastly, JavaScript gives the web page ‘life’ by enabling interactions. It can make a
page respond to user input without reloading. For example, when you click a button and see a pop-
up or change in content, that’s JavaScript working behind the scenes.
These three are the core building blocks of web applications. HTML provides the structure, CSS adds
style, and JavaScript makes the web application dynamic and interactive.
References
Sturm, R., Pollard, C., & Craig, J. (2017). Application Performance Management (APM) in the digital
enterprise: Managing Applications for Cloud, Mobile, IoT and eBusiness. Morgan Kaufmann.
GeeksforGeeks. (2022, September 19). Static vs Dynamic Website.
GeeksforGeeks. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/static-vs-dynamic-website/.
W3Schools.com. (n.d.). https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_article.asp.
Fruhlinger, J. (2024, March 1). What is JavaScript? The full-stack programming language.
https://www.infoworld.com/article/2263137/what-is-javascript-the-full-stack-programming-
language.html.
W3Schools.com (n.d.). https://www.w3schools.com/whatis/whatis_react.asp.
Nodejs.org. (n.d.). https://nodejs.org/en/about.
Knight, A. (2023, August 29). What are HTML, CSS, & Javascript? California Institute of Applied
Technology. https://www.ciat.edu/blog/html-css-
javascript/#:~:text=Whereas%20HTML%20%26%20CSS%20are%20used,building%20web%20pag
es%20and%20applications.
