Web applications or webapps are applications that are accessed via your web browser over a network. The network could be a simple internal network and these are normally referred to as an intranet.

Besides the intranet there is also the internet. Web applications are more and more common since they offer the benefit of once it is deployed the user can access it directly with their web browser and never have to install new programs on their computer.

These systems also benefit your business, by allowing workers to access data while on the road and out of the office, when deployed as an internet based web app. The benefit for small and medium sized businesses grows even greater when the application requires shared relational databases which while extremely powerful, can be a challenge for many small businesses to take advantage of.  In these scenarios, the database is hosted off site and the users can access it through the web application just as it was internal.

Web applications are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers, and the convenience of using a web browser as a client.  For many businesses this makes economical sense since the cost of computers for the employees drop when they are not required to have high end components.  If the computer can run a web browser the user is good to go.  Other benefits such as employees that need to be on the road or maybe unable to get to the office because of sick children or because of inclimate weather can still get work done. 

Web apps are also useful for extending service to your customers, via support, feed back and requests for information.  Since all this data is stored on the database, you have the ability to analyze the data see trends and make adjustments to improve your bottom line.