Jeremy and Samantha were all set to launch their startup. They had a product ready, and the office location had been finalized.

That’s when Jeremy’s friend asked them whether they had their website live or not. And this is where things became confusing for the duo. Did they need a webpage or a website? And what exactly was the difference between webpage and website?

Needless to say, they had to push back their launch date. And if you were in their shoes, you’d be stumped by the webpage vs. website debate as well. This is one of the questions that most people struggle to understand, let alone answer.

But fret not, today we are here to clear all your doubts! After going through the following, you’ll have absolutely no trouble distinguishing between a webpage and a website. What’s more, you’ll also be knowledgeable about web applications.

So, let’s not delay any longer and dive straight in.

What A Web Page Is

The debate of webpage vs. website is an old one for sure, but not one that cannot be quickly resolved. In fact, the primary difference between the two lies in their definitions.

A web page is a digital document that resides on the world-wide-web. Web pages are the fundamental building blocks of the internet, which is nothing but a collection of interlinked web pages. These web pages are connected to each other using hyperlinks, i.e., text that can react interactively to user actions, such as a mouse-click.

Web Pages can be created using HyperText Markup Language (HTML), along with a range of associated technologies like CSS and Javascript. While CSS adjusts the appearance of the webpage, Javascript gives the page a modicum of dynamicity (more on this later). Every webpage usually resides on a web server and can be accessed using web browser software.

Typically, every web page focuses on a single topic and may contain text, images as well as audio and video clips embedded in it. It is the browser program which is responsible for reading and rendering the webpage on the computer screen and giving it a form understandable by us humans.

But if all this is possible on a web page, what then is the need for a website? This is precisely what we’re going to explore next.

What Is A Website

If a web page is the smallest individual unit that can be put on the web, then websites are nothing but a collection of interlinked web pages that can be referenced by a single name. This name, referred to as a domain name, is the online address of the website that you are visiting, such as www.example.com.

Now, it must be understood that many of the same technologies that are used for creating web pages are also employed to create websites. But the thing is, creating a single, or even several pages can be easily done by any individual, but creating a website is an altogether different challenge.

Creating a website needs a coordinated effort that can take into consideration the complex architecture of the web. So if you are in need of a website, then call in professional web developers to take care of the task for you. But then, the question arises, how do you understand when a website is needed, and when a web page will suffice? That’s what we’re going to explore next.

When To Use Which

Traditionally, each web page is supposed to hold information on one topic only. Cramming too much info on the same page can harm its usability and render it ineffective.

Hence the need for websites, which divide the information to be presented and hold it together as a collection of web pages. Websites are large conglomerations of individual web pages that are tied together using a common thread, i.e., the domain name. This makes the representation of information more coherent and structured.

To put matters into perspective, consider the example of Amazon. Now, with its wide variety of products, the Amazon website is divided into separate product pages for each item it offers. But what if the company decided one day to lump all its offerings into a single web page?

You’re right! It just wouldn’t be possible. And therein lies the answer to the question of when to use a website and when a web page. When the amount of information you need to represent is small, such as your profile, then a single web page will suffice. If, however, there’s a considerable amount of information to take care of, then a full website would be the best way to do it.

Now you might think that the difference between webpage and website is settled…but wait, have you heard of the web application vs. website debate? What’s the difference between these two?

Not to worry, that’s exactly what we are going to tackle next.

Web Application Vs. Website

We already know the difference between a web page and a website. But did you know that web sites themselves can be of two types? Usually, a website can be classified as either a static website or a dynamic one.

A static website is a website that is built using technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. In these websites, the content is static, which is to say that the content doesn’t change with time. For static sites, the HTML files are directly uploaded to the server, where they remain for direct access by users via web browsers.

In contrast, a dynamic website changes its output with time, usually based on user interaction. Dynamic websites are built using scripting technologies such as PHP, ASP, and JSP (to name a few). Here the web pages are not statically stored but instead generated by the software based upon the user’s requirements.

And web applications are the best examples of dynamic websites. Unlike websites, which are there to display some information, web applications are essentially software that you can easily access via the browser. The most significant advantage of using a web application is that you don’t need to install anything directly on any device.

All features and utilities of the web application are available to the user directly via any web browser. This makes it convenient to use and provides greater flexibility to the user. Further, web applications are device-independent, i.e., you can access them from any web browser on any device. An excellent example of a web application is Google Docs.

The Blurring Lines

While we’re sure that the above section has quenched your queries about the web app vs. website debate, in recent times, the lines between the two are becoming increasingly blurred. Blogging platforms such as WordPress and e-commerce giants such as Amazon are increasingly combining the capabilities of both to create services that better serve the needs of the consumers.

Do I Need A Web App?

Well, that depends on several things. If you are an individual who wants to create a resume website, then there’s no need to go for a full-blown web app. For offline businesses, a website might be the way to go in the beginning. But make sure to have a talk with your developer to ensure it can be scaled to a web application in the future.

For online businesses such as e-commerce stores, a web application would be required from the get-go. Web applications today can meld features of websites and web apps to create more productive user experiences that ensure consumer satisfaction.

Can I Do It On My Own?

This, of course, depends on the level of your technical expertise. Web pages are simple things and can be quickly built by anyone after a bit of practice with HTML and related technologies.

Websites, though more complex, can still be handled if you are a seasoned programmer with some experience. Web applications are even more complicated and require knowledge of a large number of web development technologies.

Further, web applications and larger websites usually require a team effort to handle front-end design and back-end coding. This makes it necessary to hire professionals to get the job done correctly and within an optimal time frame.

Conclusion

We hope we’ve been able to resolve all your queries regarding web pages, websites, and web apps. In a nutshell, the difference between the three is all about the level of complexity and range of coverage.

Technologically speaking, a web page is simply a part of a website, which is a more significant collection of web pages. A web application is nothing but software that can be accessed through the web browser.

However, as technology advances, it’s becoming harder to understand the distinction between the three. With time, perhaps the differences themselves will become redundant.

Till then, do keep in touch, and browse the web to your heart’s content!