Web Browser Application Benefits and Disadvantages

Web-based database applications are generally easy to deploy and update and require no installation on the client’s computer. This approach comes with two primary trade-offs: usability and cost. Web browser applications are limited to the tools and functionality that are supported by a standard web browser. Significant engineering is required to overcome browser behavior deficiencies, at a cost. Typically, browser-based applications host their data in a database server that provides the necessary scalability, performance, and database-level security.

Well-designed browser-based database applications run under any browser and consequently can be deployed to disparate operating systems, from PCs to handheld computers and even to web-enabled cell phones. The asynchronous click-and-refresh communication between the client application and the server do however limit the browser-based approach to the application that is suitable for simple forms and workflows.