Today’s web apps are replacing the old desktop apps as they are highly convenient to use, easy to update and not limited to any particular device.
Users are shifting from browser-based web apps to mobile ones. The need for complex and refined apps is already colossal and is still flourishing.
But when it comes to web app development, it is a bunch of processes. It needs brainstorming, continuous efforts, patience, expertise, and a belief. So, it is important to visualize the outcome of your app before you initiate the development process.
If you are a business owner who wants to build a web app, assess where the app will go and what it’s going to be like. This analysis should not only be based on the functionality and features but also on the development approach.
Challenging the traditional multiple-page applications, there is another creative approach to building dynamic and responsive web apps quickly is Single Page Applications (SPAs).
Without further ado, let’s explore how these web app development approaches differ from each other and why some organizations choose either of them.
Single-Page Application – Basic Introduction
SPAs are JavaScript web apps that rely on client-side rendering instead of loading resources from the server. SPAs load markup and data to dynamically render them on a single web page. That is the reason SPA is known to perform well, quick to build, and relatively easy to maintain.
As if that’s not enough !!
SPAs require no page reloads and no extra time for waiting and doesn’t need to be updated as content is downloaded automatically. Facebook, Gmail, Netflix, Paypal, and many more are the best single-page application examples. Single-page app frameworks such as AngularJS, ReactJS, EmberJS, VueJS, etc., have also done wonders.
Pros of Single Page App
1. Performance
SPAs improved web app performance as all resources are loaded during one session. While interacting with the page, only the essential data gets modified.
2. Superior User Experience
SPAs offer a more knowledgeable linear experience to the users. Additionally, AJAX and JavaScript frameworks as well as only one web page facilitate highly flexible and responsive UI development.
3. Data Caching
All the essential local data gets stored in the cache after the first request to the server. It enables users to work in an offline mode such as Google Docs offline mode.
4. Development Speed
There are only a few app components to develop and test. It is also possible to reuse any part of the code.
5. Ease of Debugging
SPAs are built using popular frameworks such as ReactJS, VueJS, and AngularJS. It provides its own debugging tools based on Google Chrome-like Vue.js dev tools.
Cons of Single Page App
1. Not SEO Friendly
There are no separate URLs optimized for search engines, and search engines can’t see the content because SPAs run in JS, and data gets loaded without reloading the page.
2. Downloading Time
If the platform is complicated, huge, and inadequately optimized, the users’ browsers will take more content loading time.
3. JavaScript support is Must
It is not possible to fully leverage the app functionalities without JS support. If users disable JS in their browsers, they can not leverage the app to its fullest.
Multi-Page Application – Basic Introduction
As the name depicts, Multi-page apps have more than one page that includes static info such as text, images, and more. It links to the other pages with the same content where each change request renders a new page from the server in the browser. So shifting from one page to another, a browser reloads the page content entirely and again downloads the resource although the elements are recurring throughout all pages such as the header and footer.
That’s not all !!
MPAs usually contain an extensive range of data and complicated architecture. Because of the large content, it has myriad levels of UI. You can develop Multi-page apps simply with HTML and CSS. Many developers also use Javascript and jQuery for the app’s performance improvement.
Pros of Multi-Page App
1. SEO optimization is Possible
The multi-page app has more than one page, and all pages can be optimized for a particular group of requests. It will help your app to get free organic traffic from Google.
2. Ease of Scaling
It is possible to build as many new pages as you want for each product/service and can apply changes in all of them easily.
3. Availability of ready-made Solutions
The development of multi-page applications needs a smaller tech stack. Moreover, an extensive range of ready-made solutions (CMS) is also available in the market to be benefited.
4. Analytic Abilities
Web analytics tools such as Google Analytics can be simply integrated into MPAs that will help you monitor the page’s performance.
Cons of Multi-Page App
1. Possible Performance Issues
You might come across performance and speed issues when there are a large number of requests and reloading a plethora of pages. It happens with high website traffic and multiple functionalities executed.
2. Front-end and Back-end tight integration
The components of multi-page apps are thoroughly integrated. So it is quite a time-consuming process to build and test them.
3. Maintenance and updates
It is a tough nut to crack to deliver technical support to websites with a large number of pages. And the same applies to security matters as well.
Which one is Better?
Before starting any web app development, you need to consider the key objective.
If you are looking for multiple categories such as an online shopping app, then it’s recommended to use a multi-page site. If you are confident that the site is suitable for an excellent single-page experience, then SPA is good for you.
SPAs are best when,
- You want to focus on your brand storytelling.
- You want to develop a smaller version of your app at the initial level.
- When your app is not mainly dependent on SEO.
MPAs are best when,
- You want to display a wide range of products, services, and features.
- Your app’s success relies on search engine results.
- You want to target different clientele with different needs and preferences.
If you would love to consider SPA but can just barely adjust everything within a single page, you can go with the hybrid site. A hybrid app considers the best in both approaches and mitigates many disadvantages. We can say it is a SPA that uses URL anchors as simulated pages that facilitate smooth in-built browser navigation and efficiency.
Summing Up
Probably, in the future, it is expected that all will leverage the SPA model including a hybrid app, as it seems to deliver a plethora of advantages. Many apps on the market have already migrated to this model. However, some of the projects cannot adjust within a Single Page Application, the Multi-page app model is there to leverage.
