Viresh Rajput
Whats the difference between Website and Web Application,Which is best?
By Viresh Rajput in .NET on Sep 10 2014
  • Mahesh Kumar Alanka
    Sep, 2014 18

    Website doesn't have any db or server side processes. it is static, unable to respond dynamic user actions. Eg: An organization websiteWeb Application works on server side processes. it contain db's, dynamically responds to user request. Eg: c-sharpcorner.com, msdn.com, ecom websites

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  • Viresh Rajput
    Sep, 2014 10

    Difference: Website vs Web ApplicationSo, now a question is what's the difference between a website and a web application? ahhh..Not a lot more or everything. It's mostly a matter of perspective and semantics and is largely opinion based.In my perspective, generally a website is defined by its static content and web application is defined by its user interaction that requires programmatic user input or data processing.The basic distinction would be if a website is connected with a database and stores user data or modifies what the user sees based on some user specified criteria, then it's probably a web application. Whereas on other hand, the static files such as .html that link pages to one another, I would say it's a website.When you create a new project in Visual Studio, You'll see there are two options offering you to create a new project, one option is Website and another option is Web Application (New Project). So, you can select your option as per your requirements.In my opinion, following are few points that practically differentiate both of them:Web Site : - 1)A Website is Informational 2)All the files in folder structure are automatically included in the website. There is no .csproj/.vbproj project files in Website 3)When you deploy or publish Website, you need to upload both .aspx and .cs/.vb files to the server 4)By default explicit namespaces are not added to pages, controls or classes, but you can add them manually 5)There is no need to re-compile or built the website before publish or deploymentWeb Application :-1)A Web Application is Interactive 2)A Visual Studio .csproj/.vbproj project file stores information about the Web Application, such as list of included project files or any internal or external project to project references 3)When you deploy or publish Web Application, you only need to upload .aspx files and there is no need to upload .cs/.vb files because code-behind files are pre-compiled in .dll file 4)By default explicit namespaces are added to pages, controls and classes 5)You need to re-compile or built the web application before publish or deployment because it contains .dll files with reference of other project file detailsWebsite vs Web Application – Which is best and appropriate?As I explained above, when you want to create an Informational project, then go for Website and when you want to create an Interactive project that requires programmatic user input or data processing, and then go for Web Application.

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  • Mukhtar Ahmad
    Sep, 2014 27

    Website doesn't provide user interactions, like login, register etc.. it provides information only.. whereas a web application is much better than website in interaction as well as information providing.... for example irctc.com is not a website it is a wepb app..

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