What is a web application and how can you build one?

A web application is a computer application that runs on a web server and is accessed by users through a web browser on a network (usually the Internet). Unlike traditional desktop applications that run on the operating system, web applications must be accessed through a web browser. They can perform a variety of tasks and provide an interactive user experience similar to desktop applications.

Outro ponto importante é que aplicativos web são multiplataformas. Isso significa que eles podem ser acessados e utilizados em diferentes dispositivos e sistemas operacionais, como computadores, smartphones e tablets, independentemente de serem Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, entre outros. Essa versatilidade amplia significativamente o alcance e a acessibilidade dos aplicativos, permitindo que um maior número de usuários se beneficie de suas funcionalidades, independentemente do dispositivo que possuem.

Aplicativos WEB rodam, desde o princípio (no inicio da década de 90) em um protocolo chamado HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) e utilizam a linguagem de marcação HTML (Hypertext Meta Language) e adotam a abordagem cliente/servidor, onde o processamento das requisições (que são feitas pelos clientes) são feitas do lado do servidor e a renderização dos itens processados são feitas do lado do cliente, utilizando justamente o HTML.

To explain it plain and simple, let's consider the classic restaurant example. - the client of the web application is the customer who will be ordering a food in our restaurant. This is the request client had formed. - the API is the waiter/waitress of our restaurant, they will be forwarding the details of customer's order to the kitchen. API is basicly a set of rules & tools which provides the communication between the customer and the kitchen. - the kitchen is our server and database. Now that it has all the information to cook the food to the customer's liking. It will process the order and forward it to the customer via the API (waiter/waitress). This is the response client will get.

Building a web application involves several steps. Among those are as follows: 1. Define the Purpose and Scope 2. Choose a Stack 3. Design the User Interface 4. Set Up Development Environment for both Backend and Frontend 6. Setup Server Deployment 5. Testing 7. Documentation 8. Deployment to Production

Web applications are widely used by companies as their main system. However, they are also frequently targeted by hackers. Therefore, it is important for backend developers to be aware of vulnerabilities and weaknesses that hackers can exploit to attack the application. Additionally, backend and front-end developers should collaborate closely. For instance, the front end should design the API with backend developers and agree about API structure, and the backend should understand the technologies being used by the front end not only understanding but knowing how it’s working.This collaboration will help create a cohesive business environment and overcome any obstacles that may arise.

Eu falaria sobre padrão de arquitetura como MVC, MVP, SPA e outras, destacando a importância de cada um no desenvolvimento de aplicativos web modernos.

Constructing a web app, you start with a vision for its functionality and look. Employ React to craft a responsive front-end, and Node.js to handle backend tasks efficiently, complemented by HTML and CSS for structural and visual elements. Post-development, a testing phase ensures everything runs seamlessly. Deploy your app on a server, then iterate and enhance as needed to delight users.