Web Application Development Process with Examples

In today’s digital world, where e-commerce is booming and the number of businesses operating digitally with no physical setups is increasing, a well-structured web application is necessary. This web application development process is intricate and needs to be handled properly so you can reap its benefits in the long term. Almost every business, whether it’s a startup or a large enterprise, and even governmental organizations, relies on web apps for the purposes of connecting with customers, streamlining operations, keeping records, and creating new revenue streams.

Business owners need to understand that a properly designed and maintained web app is a business advantage, and knowing this process is necessary for business owners, too. It helps draw plans better, set reliable budgets, and plan realistic timelines. Furthermore, understanding the technical aspects of web app development helps you avoid unnecessary and costly mistakes and design your app in a way that ensures scalability for future growth.

In this article, we will explore what web development is, providing a step-by-step breakdown of the process, the frameworks used in its development, and more. One thing is for sure, though: by the end of this article, you’ll be familiar with what goes into building a successful web application.

What is Web Application Development?

Everyone in today’s world is familiar with some application; in fact, you are likely using one right now to read this article. Developing a web application involves creating applications that run on web browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave, and can also be accessed over the internet.. What separates these from conventional applications is the fact that they can be accessed on the web from any device and don’t require an installation process.

Examples include Gmail, which is used for sending and receiving emails, Canva for design, Amazon for e-commerce, and Trello for project management. The user-friendly interface of a website, combined with all the functionalities of a traditional software application, makes a powerful web app. This flexibility is precisely why many businesses prefer them.

Need to develop web applications

Why or when should a business develop a web application? There are several compelling arguments as to why a business should invest in this area, some of which are:

Web apps can be accessed from any device that supports an internet connection and a browser. Users don’t have to download any software or go through a long installation process to access web apps.
Web Apps are very easy to scale compared to conventional installation-based apps. All you have to do is upgrade the infrastructure of backend servers, and that’s it. This doesn’t disrupt the app, nor does it require any updates.
Another convenience offered by web apps is that new features or bug fixes can be rolled out and incorporated immediately, without requiring users to update anything to access the newer version.
Cost-effectiveness is another benefit of web apps. There should be only one application developed, which can then be accessed by users across all devices, regardless of platform or size. This eliminates the need for separate development efforts.

Web application development step-by-step process

As with any plan, there’s a structured and well-thought-out plan behind the development of any successful web app. This development follows a structured lifecycle, and skipping any steps can cause bugs in the final product.

1. Requirement Gathering

The very first step in building a successful app is to define its requirements and purpose clearly. Developers, as well as the concerned stakeholders, have to answer important questions like the problem solved by the app, its target audience, core features, and its technical and business requirements.

Only after defining all these can you start actually building the app and working on its development.

2. UI/UX Design

This is a crucial part of the process, as a good design is vital to user acquisition and retention. The app’s interface is the first thing users will notice and interact with. Wireframes and prototypes are developed to demonstrate user interaction with the app.

A good UI/UX design is easy to navigate, has an intuitive layout, and is accessible to all users. There are numerous real-life examples of projects declining or failing to meet expectations purely because the project’s design didn’t meet user expectations.

3. Technology Stack

There isn’t one “right” technology stack, and choosing the right technology stack for your project depends. The choice of technologies ultimately decides how scalable and maintainable your app will be. Commonly used tech stacks include MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js), MEAN (the same as MERN, except with Angular instead of React), and Django + React.

4. Frontend Development

This is concerned with coding the part of the app that users interact with. So basically, this is where you should try to use interactive and responsive features and design. Technologies like React, Angular, or Vue.js are used in this stage.

5. Backend Development

The backend of an app is essentially the powerhouse of the entire application, handling data storage, authentication, and APIs, if applicable. Node.js, Django, and Laravel are some of the popular choices for backend development.

6. Database Management

Since web apps are purely based on the web and don’t have any physical data on a device, they rely on databases to store and retrieve data. Businesses can choose from SQL databases, such as MySQL and PostgreSQL, or NoSQL databases, like MongoDB.

7. Testing

Testing is a really important part of any development process. It ensures that any bugs are detected and fixed before launch. Testing here is of three types.

Functional testing checks whether all the functions of the app work properly. Security testing tests the security of the app and whether user data and transactions are safe and secure. Performance testing is related to the app’s performance and whether it can scale under heavy traffic.

8. Deployment

Once the app is fully developed and has passed testing and quality assurance checks, it’s deployed to a server environment such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Deployment is concerned with setting up hosting, load balancing, and monitoring tools.

9. Maintenance and Updates

Developers’ work doesn’t stop at launch; instead, they continually work on new features, security patches, and performance upgrades. These are rolled out through regular updates, keeping the app secure.

What are the examples of web applications?

There are a lot of real-life examples of web applications that are used globally by people in their everyday lives. Looking at these examples might make the concept of web app development easier to grasp.

Google Docs is a web application that offers collaborative document editing and is used by millions of people, including me.

Slack is a formal communication app, normally used by companies and startups, and it offers integrating of messages, file sharing, and some third-party tools too.

If you’ve frequently travelled or plan to travel, you must be familiar with Airbnb, which is an app that connects travelers with hosts globally.

Canva is a designing app used by normal people who aren’t familiar with designing to create professional graphics and edit images and videos online.

All these apps were initially launched with just a few features, and they expanded over time with additional features and a more refined, interactive UI/UX design. For example, when Airbnb was first launched, it was just a listing service. Today, it has a substantial number of interactive and value-adding features such as dynamic pricing, maps integration, and host dashboards, all of which were possible through iterative web app development.

Web application development frameworks

Frameworks make the development process more efficient by providing pre-built structures and ensuring scalability as well as security. There are different frameworks used in different parts of the development process.

Front-end frameworks

As discussed previously, this handles the client-side (what users see and interact with) of an app.

React.js is a favorite among developers because of its reusable components and fast rendering.
Angular, developed by Google, is suitable for large-scale apps.
Vue.js is considered to be the best fit for startups due to its being lightweight and flexible.

Backend frameworks

These power the server-side logic, responsible for running data storage and authentication, etc.

Express.js is lightweight and efficient.
Django is great for security-focused apps.
Ruby on Rails is known for its rapid development.

Choosing the right framework is a crucial decision that has lasting consequences. A framework or set of frameworks good for one app may not be the right choice for another, but selecting the right framework depends on the project’s needs.

Common Challenges in Web Application Development

There are challenges in every process, no matter how good your preparation and research are, and the same goes for web application development. Even with a well-planned and well-thought-out web app development process, challenges can arise, some of the most common ones being:

Scalability can be an issue among web apps, with apps that aren’t designed for growth and to withstand heavy traffic crashing under heavy load.
Security weaknesses are another commonly faced problem, and these are mostly incurred due to poor coding practices and weak authentication systems in place.
When developing a web application, it is essential to ensure that the app functions consistently and offers the same performance across all devices and browsers. Cross-browser compatibility can be a problem if not addressed properly from the outset.
Poor UI/UX Design or flaws in the design can lead to an app failing. Design is an important part of the development process, and proper time and care should be allocated towards it. Even the most powerful of apps fail if they aren’t intuitive and interactive.
Integrations and third-party APIs are part of almost every web app nowadays, and a feature like this should be handled carefully. Failure in connecting APIs and third-party apps can create bugs, damaging the user experience.

Best practices for building web applications

An app’s success predominantly depends on how well it’s handled during development. Certain practices observed over time consistently lead to better outcomes in web application projects.

You should start small with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), and launch it with only the core features. Afterwards, more features should be incorporated and/or existing features improved based on user feedback.
Security is something that should never be compromised on, as breach of data can cause irreparable damage to users’ trust. You should implement all the necessary security features, such as HTTPS, encryption, and secure authentication, from day one.
You should constantly be looking for ways to optimize and improve app performance. App performance can be made faster through lazy loading, CDN usage, or caching.
An interactive and responsive design should be created with extra focus on ensuring that the app works equally well on mobile, tablet, or desktop.
Testing and deployment can be automated, allowing resources to be focused on core operations. Continuous integration (CI/CD) accelerates the deployment process while maintaining stability and security.

To conclude, understanding how a web app is developed is crucial for anyone planning to launch an app of their own. Furthermore, it should be understood that web app development isn’t a one-time investment or effort. It’s a continuous cycle of improvement, and any business that treats it as such reaps the benefits and thrives in the long term.

At Coding Crafts, we have helped develop numerous digital products for our partners with an unwavering commitment towards quality and reliability. Our talented team of developers knows what it takes to build apps of all sizes and across all industries.

Give us a call today, and we’ll take care of the rest.