In the computer science class, Sunil and Jagdish were assigned the following task by their teacher. (a) Sunil

Exercises · Q18

Q. In the computer science class, Sunil and Jagdish were assigned the following task by their teacher.

(a) Sunil was asked to find information about "India, a Nuclear power". He was asked to use Google Chrome browser and prepare his report using Google Docs.

(b) Jagdish was asked to find information about "Digital India". He was asked to use Mozilla Firefox browser and prepare his report using Libre Office Writer. What is the difference between technologies used by Sunil and Jagdish?

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Concept understanding — Software vs Web Apps

Software vs Web Apps: A First Look

Think about the last time you used a calculator. You probably opened an app on your phone — it's there in your app drawer, it opens instantly, and it works even when you're on a plane with no internet. Now think about booking a train ticket on IRCTC. You open a browser, type the website address, and everything happens online — if your internet cuts out mid-booking, you're stuck.

That difference — between something that lives on your device and something that lives on the internet — is the core of software versus web apps.

What is a Software Application?

A software application (often called a "desktop app" or "native app") is a program that you install directly onto your computer or phone. It runs using your device's own processor and memory. The code that makes it work is stored on your device, not somewhere else.

Examples you already know: Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, the calculator on your phone, or a game like Solitaire that came with your computer. These are all software applications.

The key point: once installed, they mostly work without an internet connection. They are self-contained. Updates happen when you choose to download a new version, not automatically every time you open them.

What is a Web Application?

A web application (or "web app") is a program that you access through a web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. You don't install it. Instead, you type a URL, and the app runs on a remote server somewhere. Your browser acts like a window into that server.

Examples: Gmail, Google Docs, Netflix (when you watch through a browser), online banking portals, and yes, IRCTC. You are not "installing" these — you are visiting them.

The critical difference: web apps need the internet to function (at least for most of their features). The heavy lifting — storing your data, processing your requests — happens on the server, not on your device.

Note

Some modern web apps can work offline for basic tasks (like Google Docs with offline mode enabled), but they still rely on the server for full functionality. This is a newer development, not the original design.

The Core Differences at a Glance

Feature	Software Application	Web Application
Where it lives	Installed on your device	On a remote server, accessed via browser
Internet needed?	Usually no	Usually yes
Updates	You download and install manually (or via app store)	Happens automatically on the server — you always see the latest version
Performance	Uses your device's full power — faster, smoother	Depends on your internet speed and server load
Storage	Uses your device's hard drive	Stores data on the server (or "in the cloud")
Access	Only on devices where you install it	Any device with a browser and internet

Why This Distinction Matters

For a commerce or humanities student, this isn't just technical trivia — it has real-world consequences.

Cost and business model. Software apps are usually sold as a one-time purchase (you buy Microsoft Office once). Web apps are often subscription-based (you pay monthly for Netflix or Adobe Creative Cloud). Why? Because the company maintains servers and keeps updating the web app — they need ongoing revenue. …

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Sunil used Web Apps (Google Docs runs in a browser, dependent on internet) while Jagdish used Desktop/Software Apps (LibreOffice Writer is installed locally, works offline).

The core difference here is not about the browsers themselves (Chrome vs Firefox) — both are web browsers and essentially do the same job. The real distinction lies in the type of application each student used to create their report.

Sunil used Google Docs, which is a Web Application (or "Web App"). It runs entirely inside the browser. The software itself is not installed on his computer; instead, it lives on Google's servers. To use it, he needs an active internet connection. His document is stored "in the cloud" (on Google's servers), not on his local hard drive.

Jagdish used LibreOffice Writer, which is a Desktop Application (or "Software App"). This is a traditional program that is installed directly onto the computer's operating system. It runs independently of the browser and does not require an internet connection to function. His report is saved as a file on his own computer's storage.

Note

The browsers (Chrome and Firefox) are just the delivery mechanism for the Web App. The question is designed to test whether you can look past the browser and identify the fundamental difference in the application software itself.

Here is a direct comparison:

Feature	Sunil (Google Docs)	Jagdish (LibreOffice Writer)
Type	Web Application (Cloud-based)	Desktop Application (Local)

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Q.In the computer science class, Sunil and Jagdish were assigned the following task by their teacher.

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