Do you know the exact difference between a website and web application?
Very simply put, a website is a collection of one or more pages filled with content. This can be simply plain text, but also other types of content. Videos, images, music, games, certain tools, you name it, it can be built into a website. It is mainly static content, but dynamic content such as a planner, contact form or shopping cart can also be built into a website. This can be native, where the content is built into the programming language of the website, or by linking to existing programs through, for example, a Hyperlink or API script.
So what is a web application?
A web application is a system whose purpose is to perform specific tasks. This often involves software, which can often be used exclusively online. Most applications are used by companies, for practical or commercial purposes. These include accounting programs, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or CMS (Content Management System) systems, business analysis, and other software.
Private individuals also regularly use a web application. Your Hotmail or Gmail is a good example, as are the social media channels we use. With a web application, a distinction can be made between closed and open systems. In the case of a closed system, an account is often required, which enables you as a user to access personalized content, and gives the software provider more opportunity to monitor or support customer usage.
Gray area between website and web application
The terms website and web application are used interchangeably quite often. In some cases both terms are applicable. In fact, every web application is also a website, but the reverse is not always true.
A web application can be recognized by its personalized content, as well as the actual interaction with the user. You could compare it to the difference between a video game (in which you make certain unique choices) and a movie (which is the same for every user). In this comparison, you could call the video game a web application and the movie a static website. However, a website can also contain a web application (or even several) through links.
RSS is a powerful example of a web application
Just as you follow people on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn, you can follow websites through RSS. Many professionals use RSS to keep an eye on hundreds. Super handy, especially for sporadically or irregularly updated websites. If you start up your so-called RSS reader, you can see at a glance which website has new articles. Without having to visit all those websites separately and without having to use your e-mail inbox for that! News with a push of a button.
Through the list of articles you can then headhunt interesting news. Interesting articles can be read directly. Or simply save them on or forward them to a reading list. I myself send articles to be read to Pocket, which also works from Twitter or my web browser.
Almost all websites and weblogs offer RSS feeds. Think of websites with news like newspapers, magazines and blogs. As a user you save the websites you want to follow in an RSS reader. There you can also read the new articles that those websites publish.
FOLLOW WEBSITES VIA RSS FEEDS ON PC, LAPTOP, TABLET AND SMARTPHONE
A quick look at what has changed on the Internet is something you can do at a lost moment. Sometimes you're sitting at a workstation behind a PC or laptop, other times you're hanging out with your tablet or couch or standing in a queue somewhere with your smartphone.
What I've done myself is unsubscribe from newsletters that come in via email and research and follow RSS feeds instead. This way I only try to receive messages in my e-mail that I definitely have to do something with. Reading up on RSS feeds can then also be done at another time.
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