What is an Application? 

Application or an app is described usually as a program or defined set of programs, which can let the end-users perform specific functions. For instance, software and app development companies develop applications for various industries that can let customers make purchases or avail of services. 

Applications utilize the Operating System (OS) of a computer and various other supporting programs, especially the system software for their operation. The applications work based on communication with many technological tools through an Application Programming Interface (API). 

History of Applications 

In the earlier times, computers had occupied entire room space and didn’t have any screen, mouse or keyboard. Instead, they were controlled using punch cards. Primarily they were utilized by academicians and researchers, without the involvement or access to general users.  

However, in 1968, Californian Engineer Douglas Engelbart hosted an event, where he exhibited the keyboard,  mouse, their uses, and the Graphical User Interface (GUI). These showed the capabilities of word processing, hyperlinking, and so-called application features. 

Later, computers took a giant leap from universities to personal spaces. Software applications and development could make computers and devices more powerful. Especially, the evolution of applications gave life to the new beneficial features – spreadsheets, word processors, graphics, and so on. 

Difference between Program, Software, and Application 

Though the terms software, application, and program are interchanged and used over many places, these terms neither mean the same thing nor serve the same purpose, but are related to each other.  

The software can be defined as the programs or instructions that direct a computer about what to perform. This is a functionality of a computer that is not a specific feature of the hardware. Software is considered a program you can use to install or remove from a computer.  

However, Firmware is a kind of permanent software, which is integrated with the hardware. System software consists of programs, which can be used to manage the computer, and usually runs with no user interaction. 

A program can be defined as a defined set of commands or instructions that can tell a computer what needs to be performed. They are written in different programming languages including PHP, Java, Python, etc. 

Application is a kind of software and is also tagged as application software. Application is built with a program or a group of programs like every other software. The unique feature of an application is that it is specifically designed to encourage user interaction. With applications, users can perform a wide spectrum of tasks ranging from creating text documents to performing numerical data analysis. 

Different Types of Application 

Mobile Application 

While referring to the term mobile applications, users preferably call them apps- which are usually targeted to be used on a tablet or a smartphone.   

The usage of the term Application is profound mostly when it comes to the laptop or desktop software. But both app and application can be used interchangeably. Both are designed to promote user interaction.  

There are various types of mobile application development technologies with versatility across every type regarding the function and features. 

1. Native applications 

Native applications are built with the help of IDEs or Integrated Development Environment and various languages for the mobile Operating Systems- iOS and Android. Native apps can let you enable the customization of essential features, however expensive compared to the other technologies. 

2. Hybrid applications 

Apps that behave somewhat similar to native apps are known as hybrid apps. They are built with the help of technologies like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, and Javascript. Hybrid apps are most cost-effective when compared to native applications but can be created quickly. However hybrid apps are not as feature-rich as native apps. 

3. Progressive web applications 

Progressive Web Applications or PWA refers to the website that appears and acts just like a mobile application.  These kinds of applications are developed by utilizing web technologies like Facebook React. 

4. Encapsulated applications 

These apps run within the contained applications. With drag and drop application builder tools, the Microsoft Power application could assist the least experienced developers to quickly build an application.  

5. Frameworks and libraries 

Framework and libraries are the reusable codes that are written by anyone else to trigger the mobile app development. These can be useful to use various codes to make tweaks and desirable changes to develop the applications. 

Desktop Application 

Desktop applications are numerous and classified into many categories. Certain applications are fully featured such as Microsoft Word, whereas others are like the Calendar or Clock app. Some common desktop applications include: 

Word Processors: To write letters, make brochures, or various documents, and the popular one is MS Word. 

Web Browsers: This refers to the tools users go for to access the Internet. Browsers might be usually preinstalled, but preferred browsers can also be installed. The most popular examples are Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc. 

Media players: Media Player is a kind of application you can use to listen to music or watch downloaded movies. Some of the prominent media players are Windows Media Player and iTunes  

Games: There are several types of games to be played on the computer. Games are applications intended for entertainment and advanced technologies have added user interaction functionalities to these applications. 

Web Application 

The web application is another unique type of application. It is a specific application, which can be accessed with a browser and can be stored on a remote server. Most web applications can’t work in the absence of Internet access, however, certain applications can operate with no Internet connection, since they depend on resources that are stored on the device where the applications are installed. 

These applications need not be downloaded like mobile applications, since they can be accessed through a network.  The users can make use of web applications using web browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox, etc. 

A web application needs a web server, database, and application server to operate efficiently. The web servers can monitor and manage the request received from a client, the application server is designated to accomplish the completion of the requested task, whereas the database is used to store the vital information. 

Web applications can be developed with the help of shorter development teams and they have small development cycles. Various types of web applications are: 

Static Web Apps: 

These web applications use restricted content but are not flexible. Therefore they are understood as the pages that are produced by the server with the least interactivity. There is no app personalization, and the pages reflect changes after they are fully loaded.  Some best examples for static web applications are marketing landing pages, professional portfolios, digital resumes, and so on. 

Dynamic Web Apps:  

These kinds of web applications need a database that can store ample data, where the content undergoes persistent updates to be accessed by the users. This can be done with the help of a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress, which has an inbuilt admin panel. 

SaaS Application 

Another kind of application is SaaS or Software-as-a-Service application. This is a kind of other application but used to store important user data in the cloud. Most of the SaaS applications charge a certain subscription fee to utilize the application and their cloud-storage functions.  

SaaS delivers full-fledged software development solutions where businesses purchase them in pay-as-you-go mode and can be accessed from a cloud service provider. The application is usually rented for a particular organization and the users can connect to it via Web browser to the Internet.  The app data, software, infrastructure, and middleware are found in the data center of the Service provider.   

The SaaS service provider governs both hardware and software in the scope of the applicable service agreement, which can make sure that the app and related data are secure or available. SaaS can aid organizations in running the applications at a low upfront cost. The major examples of SaaS applications are Google Workspace, Salesforce.com, Microsoft Office 365, Dropbox, etc. 

What is an API? 

API is a set of formulated rules that allow programs to communicate with each other, exhibiting the data and its functionality across the Web in a compatible format.  

APIs can enhance the communications between companies, third-party developers, internal departments, and business partners through a documented interface. Developers are not required to be aware of how APIs are deployed, they can utilize the interface to enable communication between products and services. 

SDK or Software Development Kit is a specific set of software development tools, to develop applications for a particular platform. SDK may use more than one APIs, documentation, and programming tools to create industry-specific applications. 

How does an API work? 

APIs exist between the web server and the application that works as an intermediary layer to expedite the efficient data transfer between both systems. 

1. The client prompts a call to initiate data retrieval, called a request. With the help of Uniform Resource Identifier  (URI) via API, requests are processed to the web server from the application. 

2. Once the valid request is received, API creates a call to the web server or the external program. 

3. The server then sends a response back to the API that has the requested data. 

4. API initiates data transfer to the application that made the request initially. 

If a User Interface or UI is designed and developed for the benefit of human users, the APIs are developed for the uses of applications or computers. 

Programmable Communications in Application Development 

Businesses need easy-to-use software applications that can communicate with interconnected devices across the globe. When brands and developers opt to enhance communication capabilities, they opt to use programmable communication functionality from Voxvalley that can embed messaging, audio, video, etc. to the applications. 

Voxvalley offers Application Programming Interfaces or APIs,  which can integrate these communication features into the applications and enhance business communications. 

With the help of Vox APIs, developers can use the tools to empower the applications with the capability to exchange any message, with the least effort for development involved. Vox APIs can route the communications to the right systems and persons, through the chosen communication channel, with the familiar web languages. This can let businesses improve communication possibilities like never before and trigger the customer experiences rapidly.