what is the difference between webservice and webapplication?

Question

can you please tell me what is the difference between webservice and webapplication.

score 21 · Answer 1 · answered May 14 '10 at 05:47

A web service:

Typically returns XML or JSON or something like that, something that is easily decoded by a program
The results you get from a web service is typically not just shown to a person in its raw form (ie. since it isn't HTML, the results have to be reformatted, like placed into a form)
The intended usage of a web service is that it is something an application can talk to

A web application

Typically returns HTML or image data or similar
The results you get from a web application is usually shown to a person, through a web browser

As for similarities:

Both typically use HTTP(S) as the transport
Both typically use HTTP authentication/authorization to secure data
Both are typically hosted by a web server

So the main difference is who usually talks to them. A web service usually by another application, a web application usually by a web browser. Other than that they're pretty similar.

Thanks. From reading, my understanding is that a web application can use web services in its servlets. The viewer can parse what the web services return using something like javascript. Am in understanding the relationships correctly? — Brian, Feb 14 '14 at 23:20

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered May 14 '10 at 05:48

Here is the Web Application and here is Web Service

Web application: any application which resides on a server, and mainly used by human using web browser. All user interactivity is done through web pages.

Web service: server-based application (as above) which may be accessed over the web via HTTP, but is meant primarily for interaction with other programs. Generally it is WEB API for other applications.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 14 '10 at 05:49

0

check this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_service

http://www.w3schools.com/webservices/ws_intro.asp

answered May 14 '10 at 05:49

Bala

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score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

In a nutshell, a Webservice uses special HTTP transport protocols to communicate to other servers. Webservices are meant to be used by other applications.

In the ASP.Net world, a web application is a type of Visual Studio project that allows building ASP.Net websites in a particular configuration. E.g. A Webservice can be built using a Web Application type project. Or a Web Application can also refer to a website that is meant to be used directly by an end-user ( unlike web services ).

Here are a few links and related SO questions...

What is the difference between an asp.net web method and a wcf service?

ASP.NET Web Site or ASP.NET Web Application?

Introduction to Web Services and ASP.NET

what is the difference between webservice and webapplication?

4 Answers4