What makes a single page application SPA different from a normal web page

Single Page Applications (SPAs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with the rise of JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular. But what sets SPAs apart from traditional web pages? In this article, we’ll explore the key features that differentiate SPAs from normal web pages and compare them to Progressive Web Applications (PWAs).

1. Dynamic updates: One of the most significant differences between SPAs and normal web pages is the way they handle updates. SPAs use JavaScript to dynamically update the page content without requiring a full page reload. This provides a smoother and more seamless user experience, as the user doesn’t have to wait for the entire page to reload every time they interact with the application.
2. Client-side rendering : In a traditional web page, the server is responsible for rendering the page content and sending it to the client. In contrast, SPAs use JavaScript frameworks to render the page content on the client-side. This means that the server only needs to send the application shell and data, rather than the complete HTML for each page. This results in faster load times and reduced bandwidth usage.

3. Improved user experience: SPAs are designed to provide a better user experience than traditional web pages. The absence of full page reloads, combined with dynamic updates and faster load times, makes for a smoother and more seamless experience. Users can interact with the application without interruption, which can lead to increased engagement and satisfaction.
4. Reduced bandwidth usage: As mentioned earlier, SPAs require fewer HTTP requests to the server than traditional web pages. This results in reduced bandwidth usage and faster load times, which is particularly important for users on slow or unreliable connections.

SPA vs PWA

Although Single Page Applications (SPAs) share some features with Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), they are not the same. SPAs are designed to deliver a speedy and responsive user interface, with dynamic updates and reduced bandwidth consumption, making them an attractive option over traditional web pages. You can discover more about the contrasts between SPA and PWA by referring to this article.

To conclude, SPAs offer several advantages over traditional web pages and have emerged as a modern approach to building web applications. They deliver faster load times, enhanced user experience, dynamic updates, and lower bandwidth usage. While they differ from PWAs, they play a crucial role in the contemporary web development scene.