Web App
Software that runs in a web browser and does not require installation.
A web app is like renting a fully furnished apartment—everything you need is there, no moving furniture required.
Google Docs, Slack in a browser, and Notion are web apps. You access them through a URL, not an app store.
Web apps work on any device with a browser, require no installation, and are easier to update than installed software.
Confusing a website with a web app. Websites display information; web apps let you do things with that information.
Related Terms
Software designed specifically for smartphones and tablets, downloaded from app stores.
Software as a Service—software you rent through a subscription instead of buying outright.
An app built specifically for one platform using that platform's programming language.