Web applications are software programs that are accessed via web browsers. Typically, web applications are accessed via the internet or via intranet. It is also possible to run a web application as a stand-alone application on a single machine.

One key element that makes web applications unique from other software applications is their ubiquitous nature. The standardization of HTML, SQL, Javascript, CSS, XML and other technologies has enabled a whole new class of applications to be developed that can be run on virtually any computer that has browser software installed, regardless of the computer make or the operating system.

A second key element that makes web applications unique is the inherent "always-accessible" nature of internet services. Not only can a well designed web application be run on virtually any computer with a browser, it can be accessed from anywhere in the world at any time of day or night via the internet.

These two elements have led to a whole new class of applications that are fundamentally changing business models world-wide.

One well known example of such a web application is Amazon.com's web site. Amazon's web application is itself, in fact, a whole new business model. Virtually the entire customer interaction with Amazon Books occurs within their web application. It is not the whole business, of course, but the whole business certainly centers around it and Amazon's business model is based upon it.

The traditional web site is the most well recognized form of a web application. Many sites are very simple programs that do little more than display static images and text that is updated infrequently. More and more, however, web sites are becoming much more functional applications that enable customer access to products or services and that provide access to dymamically arranged data tailored specifically to the unique needs of the individual site visitor.

Other web applications would not be called web sites at all, nor would they be made available to the general public. Such applications include browser-based contact management systems, on-line training systems, inventory tracking systems, logistics management systems, etc. The list of applications is as endless as the list of useful software applications that already exist and are used by companies to more effectively manage their businesses and maintain their competitive edge.