How to Build a Single Page Application (SPA)
One of the trends that has taken web development by storm is single page applications (SPA). These apps bring tons of benefits, starting from the fact that they don’t require installation to their lightning-fast page loading, availability on all devices, and super-smooth UX.
Although it might seem that SPAs have only recently gained immense popularity, they have been used quite extensively over the past few years. In fact, a similar concept was already introduced when Flash-based pages came out in 2002. They worked similarly to SPAs, but unfortunately, they were very soon discontinued due to security issues with Flash.
Around this moment, SPAs came into use and confidently took the reins. Gmail, Twitter, Pinterest, or Netflix are just a few single page application examples you most likely run into every day and that have been in use for a long time. However, as companies recognize the benefits of SPAs, their number on the web is increasing exponentially.
If you, too, are considering the development of a SPA, don’t look further. In this article, you’ll find answers to all the questions related to the creation of single page applications, starting from what it is and how it differs from multi-page applications to how to build an app that stands out from the crowd. Ready to dive in? If so, let’s get started.
What Is a Single Page Application?
SPA are web applications that work in the browser and don’t require a page reload. Whenever the change occurs, only certain elements on the page refresh, while most of the core components like headers, footers, sidebars, scrollbars, etc. do not refresh and remain the same. This approach is more convenient for users as pages load faster and smoother. It’s also more cost-effective for businesses as smaller portions of information are processed by their servers.
Single page application development is important because it provides a seamless UX by loading all the necessary resources at once, reducing page refreshes, and speeding up the application’s performance. With SPA development, web applications can be built with greater interactivity and faster load times, resulting in improved user engagement and overall satisfaction.
Let’s look at some of the most prominent examples that represent single page application best practices.
- Gmail — when you click a button or link, the page doesn’t change. Instead, JS code rewrites the information, bringing forward the message or folder you requested.
- Google Docs — all changes occur in real-time. Progress loss changes are zero, thanks to the always-on auto-save feature.
- Twitter — any basic actions like tweeting, retweeting, following, uploading images, etc. can be done while remaining on the same page.
- Facebook — the content on the feed, such as news, posts, and remarks, dynamically uploads, allowing users to view and scroll it on the same page.
Basics of a Single-Page Application Architecture
There’s a ton of repetitive content on web pages. Look at blogs, social media platforms, or email websites, for example. They all have the same or very similar layout with only minor differences. Websites like this call for SPA.
Single page applications use elements that are already present on your screen and only send or take away some parts of it depending on your request. For example, if you want to open an email, the server sends the information about it on top of other preview screens loaded on the page instead of taking away all other emails and loading them back. Therefore, SPAs work faster and are more convenient for users.
Single-page application development requires a client-side application architecture where the client handles most of the processing, reducing server load and enabling a smoother user experience. In applications, the architecture is typically organized into reusable components that can be easily modified or reused across multiple pages, allowing faster and more efficient development.
Main Benefits of SPA
As mentioned, SPAs have numerous benefits, making them so popular for modern businesses. They demonstrate enhanced performance with shorter development time and reduced costs. Moreover, they are responsive, making them suitable for mobile and desktop devices. However, these aren’t the only advantages SPA brings to the table. Let’s look at the full list of benefits:
- Every file loads once. After the page is loaded into SPA, files are no longer sent to the user. Each page is fully loaded from the beginning, and only the newly requested data is retrieved from the server, speeding up page loading time.
- Servers don’t receive additional queries. When using SPA, servers don’t need to spend resources on reloading a full page every time. This is beneficial for businesses as they can cut costs by lowering the traffic on their servers. Besides, they can accommodate more website visitors while using fewer servers.
- Faster and simpler front-end solutions. By working on single page apps, developers can separate front-end and back-end development. Front-end requirements change rather often and need a thorough rework, while back-end doesn’t need a lot of changes. Having the option to work on the front-end separately allows developers to bring changes quickly and efficiently and achieve the best results.
- Improved user experience. The unique build of SPAs allows experimenting with their visual design and functionalities. Single page application framework solutions are perfect for designing user experiences with dynamic and engaging features. Additionally, even if your framework is developed using a different programming language than the one used to write back-end, it will work just fine.
- Multi-platform experience. Companies can benefit from SPAs significantly when developing mobile solutions. Since SPAs are already built much like apps, their back-end code can be used to create mobile applications without introducing many changes. This is a great solution for quick mobile development.
- Faster speed and productivity. Logos, headers, banners, and footers load just once for each session, significantly increasing website speed and performance.
- Easy to test and debug. All SPA network operations can be easily monitored using Chrome, making it easy to test ready-made solutions.
Considering the benefits of SPAs, it’s easy to see why they are so popular. People are relying more often on mobile devices, and providing smoother user experiences has become paramount in the digital landscape. Moreover, the impact SPAs have on business performance is truly remarkable. According to studies, SPA development can lead to a 20-30% increase in engagement and also reduce bounce rates by up to 30%, which will ultimately lead to increased conversions.
Don’t know if SPA is the right choice for your project? We can help you determine the best approach
Challenges of Single Page Apps
Though the advantages of SPAs are impressive, it’s important to recognize that they are not without their share of challenges. Let’s delve into some of the key hurdles that developers and business owners face when dealing with single page application architecture.
SEO-Optimization
One of the biggest problems with Java-Script-served content, which SPA is, is that it can be quite hard to optimize. This is because search engines consider a page only if there’s a valid link leading to it, and SPAs that rewrite the content without changing the URL make it challenging for SEO crawlers to index the content effectively. The introduction of a workaround in 2009 by Google, however, made fixing search-related JavaScript problems easier.
Security Testing
The biggest concern is an XSS (Cross-Site-Shipping) Attack, which occurs when an app allows hackers to inject or execute arbitrary JS code on your page. That said, security testing can flag areas with potential vulnerabilities, preventing them from being exploited.
High Attachment to JavaScript
The JS dependency is another concern when it comes to building single-page applications. Only if JS is turned on in the user browser can it function properly; otherwise, there’s not much use in SPA. The problem is, it’s outside the developer’s control.
Development Cost
Although it’s believed that the cost of developing SPAs is lower compared to MPAs, this isn’t entirely true. The thing is, SPA is a relatively new pattern in the world of development, which means development teams must have skills and expertise in relevant frameworks to build an app like that within a short time span. In reality, however, it often takes more hours than anticipated, resulting in higher development costs.
Single-Page vs. Multiple-Page Application: What’s the Difference?
Did you know that 92.3% of people are accessing the Internet using their mobile devices? This means that mobile development must be a priority for businesses that want to thrive in the dynamic marketplace. That said, the need for desktop applications is still prevalent, especially for certain industries and use cases. So, before moving forward with creating an application, start by choosing the correct design pattern.
There are two types of patterns to choose from:
- Single-page web applications,
- Multi-page apps.
You’re already well aware of the benefits of SPAs, but multi-page applications (MPA) have their pros as well. Let’s compare the strengths and weaknesses of both SPAs and MPAs so you can understand which of the two is the right choice for your project.
MPAs are all around us, and you come across them every day while surfing the web. These are the kinds of websites that have a relatively slow initial page load and that reload after each new action on the site. They are perfect for large companies boasting an array of technical features and promoting a wide variety of products.
SPAs, on the other hand, provide a different approach to web development. They load fast and run smoothly without delays due to constant reloads. They also allow for further hassle-free mobile development. However, they are not suitable for large websites with multiple pages, like, for example, Amazon and similar marketplaces.
To make it a tad bit easier, we’ve put together a comparison chart with the key distinctions of SPAs and MPAs, along with their advantages and disadvantages, which should help you make the right choice.
Many companies use a hybrid approach — a single page application with pages built with URL anchors. This enables developers to add more functionality with less complicated navigation. However, the hybrid approach is controversial — some developers think it combines the best of both approaches, while others think it only highlights the disadvantages of each. Who is right is up for debate, but we’re sure that with the right strategy, this approach will allow you to make the most of your endeavors.
How to Build a Single Page Application
If the challenges of SPAs haven’t deterred you from building an application, then let’s move on to the SPA web development process.
If you don’t have in-house software engineers, you’ll need to assemble a development team. One way to do this is to outsource developers. By delegating single-page app development to remote teams, you can quickly gather professionals with the required skills and speed up the development process. At QArea, we’ve got years of experience in web app development and can help take your project from concept to completion. Our team comprises specialists well-versed in cutting-edge technologies and can be formed to suit the specific needs of your project.
QArea has years of experience developing SPAs with a proven track record
When assembling a team, ensure you’ve got all the specialists required for the project. Typically, the group includes:
- A business analyst,
- Front-end and back-end developers,
- A UI/UX designer,
- A project manager,
- QA engineers.
Once the team is assembled, you don’t need to do anything else since the development of an app from start to finish will be entirely their responsibility. Regardless, it never hurts to familiarize yourself with the key steps of single page app development to stay in control of the process. Let’s take a look at what happens when developers receive project requirements.
- Discovery Phase
The discovery phase initiates the process of software development and is usually conducted either by a business analyst or a project owner himself. At this stage, it’s important to analyze market trends, competitors, and target audiences. Your application should provide value for people in your niche and be able to stand up to the competition.
- SPA Web Design
SPA design is a crucial part of development because, unlike traditional apps, single-page applications need to fit all the website content within one page, which can be quite difficult. If the app fails to deliver a smooth user experience, the result will be increased bounce rates and lost conversions. With that in mind, this job is entrusted in the hands of professional UI/UX designers who know the ropes of SPA design and can strategically arrange UI elements on the web page.
- Development Stage
Next comes the development stage. By and large, if you have a team experienced in SPA software development, the process shouldn’t take a lot of time and resources. First off, it doesn’t require a lot of server-side work, and secondly, it’s generally streamlined using JavaScript frameworks.
Speaking of the typical SPA development time, it can vary from 2 weeks to 12 months. This gap is due to a variety of factors that can slow down or speed up development. Obviously, the more complex the project is, the more time the research will take and the longer it will be in development. At the same time, the team size matters as well. If you have enough people by your side, you can create even the most complex application rather quickly.
It’s not easy to know exactly how many specialists you need to complete a project, especially if you’re new to this sphere. To help you out, we can estimate your project and work out the right manpower for the job. We can also help with choosing the most suitable frameworks to accommodate the unique needs of your SPA.
Get in touch to discuss the details of your project, and we’ll help bring it from idea to reality!
Bruce Mason
Delivery Director
Basically, your team has several options: use pure JS or any of its JS frameworks. Either of these options may work depending on the specifics of your project. Let’s cover some of the most popular front-end frameworks to choose from:
- Angular. It is an open-source framework that allows you to create fast SPAs and dynamic views with HTML-based syntax. The main benefit of Angular is the ease of use. To build a single-page application, developers simply copy the content from the server. It’s one of the most popular front-end frameworks used to build SPAs.
- React. React.js is an open-source library that ideally suits the purpose of creating an SPA. It’s made of tiny components that the server overwrites every time after a new action on the site.
- Vue. Another framework that is often used for developing single-page apps is Vue.js. The strength of this framework is that it can scale from framework to library and handle complex tasks in advanced SPAs while maintaining simplicity.
- Ember. Ember.js is also worth mentioning, as it’s one of the most popular JS frameworks among businesses, including big corporations like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and the rest. Ember.js has a few aces up its sleeve. First, the unique binding syntax offers a smooth and productive development experience. And second, it’s renowned for the Glimmer rendering engine that powers its performance by generating pages quickly.
- Svelte. Svelte is unique among SPA frameworks because it compiles your code into highly efficient vanilla JavaScript during build time. This approach minimizes runtime overhead, resulting in fast-loading SPAs. Svelte is particularly suitable for applications where performance is a top priority.
When it comes to the best option for SPA back-end development, developers can choose any technology they feel most comfortable with. In general, Node.js is considered a good option, although PHP framework for the back-end and other technologies like Python or Ruby on Rails can also be suitable depending on the goals of the project.
Aside from that, the knowledge of AJAX is required. This tool is used for asynchronous JavaScript and XML, enabling the client and server to exchange data without the end users noticing it.
- QA and Testing
Before the product can go live, it must be tested and debugged to prevent any issues interfering with its functionality. For this purpose, it’s essential to determine how the quality of the project will be measured and ensure that the final product meets the established specifications. Testers can be involved at the earliest stages of development to prevent serious bugs from falling into the later stages and causing costly delays.
- Post-Launch Maintenance
Like with any software product, SPAs require ongoing maintenance after release. So, you may need to keep a few specialists by your side to ensure nothing goes wrong with your app when it becomes publicly available. If hiring developers to work in-house isn’t an option, reaching out to a remote team may be the best and most cost-effective solution.
Conclusion
To sum things up, single page applications have a lot of advantages, making them an attractive choice for many modern web development projects. They offer enhanced performance, responsive design, and streamlined server resource usage. They can create engaging user experiences and are well-suited for mobile and desktop solutions.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that it’s not always a good idea to opt for a single page app. For example, if you’re a large enterprise with a content-heavy website, a single page app might not work. In this case, it’s better to either go for an MPA or embrace a hybrid model. So, before proceeding to development, carefully consider the pros and cons of each approach and their use case scenarios to make sure everything aligns with your project’s goals.
Development isn’t too complicated, although you need to find a team experienced in this design pattern. Once you have the right people on board, it shouldn’t take too long to build a single page app. Collaborate with your team throughout the development cycle, and you’ll be sure to get results that meet and exceed your goals.
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