A web application is a piece of software that resides on a web server and typically performs some sort of business function by combining computer programs called “scripts” with databases. Web applications provide their users with several advantages over conventional software. They excel at allowing organizations to centralize their data, easing communications, and preventing miscommunication. They also provide a software solution that is platform independent, and if desired, can be set up so they can be accessed from any web enabled workstation in the world.

PHP is a scripting language like Microsoft’s ASP or Macromedia’s Cold Fusion. It is arguably superior because of faster execution, and in comparison, to ASP, better ease of coding. PHP runs under Apache and many other web servers and many ISPs provide it as an inexpensive hosting option. MySQL is a database that is particularly suitable for integration with the PHP language and is ideally suited for the databasing needs of small to medium sized businesses.

An app can:

Of course, it depends on your goals. In both cases, you can deliver your site on multiple device platforms by using the standard “Web stack” of technologies (HTML/CSS/JavaScript). However, an advantage of a web app is that it looks like a native application to users — they can launch it from their home screen or desktop, without having to find a bookmark or remember a URL. This means they are more likely to use it and keep returning to it than a website.