SPA vs MPA- A Complete Comparison for Your Web Development

Quick Summary: Single Page Application and Multi Page Application are two web application frameworks developers use to build websites. While the single-page application operates a single HTML, the multi-page application runs several HTML for multiple pages. We have covered how SPA and MPA work and how to choose the best one. Keep reading.

You are geared to build a website for your business to increase brand visibility but are perpetually confused about which web development framework to use. Many business owners struggle with making this critical decision because they have little knowledge of how web applications work. 

However, as a business owner, abandoning the process of your web development isn’t the right choice. Therefore, you should understand SPA and MPA before outsourcing to a web development service company.

In this blog, you will learn how Single-Page Application (SPA) and Multi-Page Application (MPA) work amidst their advantages and disadvantages. 

What is a Single Page Application?

A single-page application (SPA) is a web application that loads only a single page when a user interacts with the web. Think about the apps you have interacted with today. Did you notice that you could scroll through your feeds, click on pictures, and make comments without waiting for each page to load as you input your command? Most companies like Gmail, Google, Trello, Pinterest, Airbnb, and Facebook host their site on a single-page application.

Remember when opening an image or loading the home page took forever? You have to stare at the rotating circle, waiting for the page to load. However, accessing this content is now easier thanks to the single-page application.

You are probably wondering how the SPA works. Don’t think too hard. Here is how the SPA works!

A single-page application operates a single HTML page, where the JavaScript constantly updates the page content. SPA’s server focuses on the data, not the page. Quintessentially,  this means that when a user interacts with the app, the JavaScript reloads only the content so the user can see the newer posts. It doesn’t refresh the entire page, which is what the traditional web application does. 

Traditional web applications take time to load because the server sends a new HTML whenever a user enters a website URL. In contrast, single-page applications speed up this process by reloading data, not the page.

Now that we have an in-depth knowledge of what SPA mean, knowing its pros and cons would solidify your knowledge.

Here are the pros and cons of the SPA web application.

Pros of SPA Application

Speed

The SPA server reloads only the content instead of the whole page components, and it does this act with speed. Many organizations prefer SPA because of how fast it loads. In today’s digital world, speed is gold. No user would revisit a horrible site that takes ages to load. 

According to Google research, a page that takes over 200 milliseconds to load might impact business and sales. In the SPA web application, users enjoy their experience because it doesn’t lag, loads fast, and contents are smoothly presented across the web page.

Works Offline

SPA can run without the internet. Every request from the user is downloadable and made available on the web page. The single-page applications store data from the server locally so that the application can function without the Internet.

When the internet is restored, SPA reconnects to the internet with the existing data in the system. Operations are run smoothly, with users enjoying a frictionless web interface.

Easy to Maintain

SPAs use a modular design where each component can be modified or replaced independently without affecting the other components. A custom web application development company can add more servers to the applications to handle more complex operations.

For example, during the web development processes, the backend developer can focus on the API without interrupting the frontend developer working on the user interface. They can work independently to achieve a frictionless website.

Reduces server load

It posts only necessary information and content on the page, increasing the website speed and reducing data usage.

As opposed to a multi-page application, SPA does not deal with transferring large amounts of data; instead, limited data is shared between the client and server, lowering the usage frequency.

Mobile Compatible

The vast majority of internet users access websites using their phones. About 92.3% of internet users use mobile phones. Therefore, businesses must ensure their web is mobile-friendly to accommodate all users.

SPAs are mobile-friendly since it is flexible and can be adjusted to fit mobile devices. Web developers can use the same backend code for Web and Android/IOS devices. With SPA, you don’t have to make complex changes. 

Cons of SPA Application

Prone to cyber-attacks

Since the client sends the message to the server, the SPA can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS). However, if a developer can separate the JavaScript, this problem can be managed.

Browser compatibility issues

SPA usually experiences browser compatibility issues that do not support JavaScript features. This will require lots of effort to stay consistent across different browsers. It doesn’t support all browsers and takes the user to the previous page instead of the prior page.

Poor SEO

Google finds it difficult to rank SPA websites because it has only one URL, reducing site visibility. Since SPA uses JavaScript and loads only one page, the sites have fewer keywords, which affects Google’s ranking.

It deletes user history from the browser

Your searches don’t save when using SPA. You lose a previous page once you click the next button. Managing this challenge requires that industries can use the HTML 5 history API, making navigating the web easier.

With an understanding of SPA, let us explore the other side of the coin–Multi-Page Application.

What is a Multi-page Application?

A multi-page application is a web application framework with multiple pages on the website. Since each page has unique contents, the application loads them differently. Unlike the SPA, multi-page application uses a large amount of data due to the number of pages on the web.

Multi-Page Application requires multiple UI layers to collate the various data. Large organizations with heavy data prefer the multi-page application.

Examples of Multi-Page Applications are blogs, e-commerce websites, forums, job portals, healthcare portals, government websites, educational platforms, online banking, news websites, web designs, and sites that sell customer services. 

Companies like Wikipedia, eBay, and Amazon use multi-page applications for their websites.

Here are the pros and cons of the MPA web application.

Pros of MPA Application

The advantages of a multi-page application are:

SEO Optimised

Both developers and business owners desire their pages to rank at the top of Google. Google ranks multi-page applications websites high due to their multiple pages with various keywords, Meta descriptions, and alt tags. Each page on the web has its URL, making it easier to appear on the search results.

Website integration

With Google Analytics, integrating data is easier. You will be able to know the number of site visits, the page your visitor visits often, audience demographics, and high and low-performing website pages.

Making decisions will be a walk in the park once you have accurate data on your website. You can make the necessary corrections on your website with the data.

Compatible with browsers

MPA works with old and new browsers because it has been in use for a longer period.

Improved Security

MPA uses different URLs for multiple pages, and this tightens security. It is difficult for a hacker to steal user information because the pages are more secure, and security measures are easier to implement.

Cons of MPA Application

Slow Performance

A multi-page application takes time to load each page, which slows down performance, unlike a single-page application that loads only the content. Pages like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML reload when there is a separate action. The user gets to wait for the server to respond before accessing that page, resulting in low customer satisfaction.

High Maintenance

Web development companies need help to update a website regularly because of the multiple pages of MPA. It becomes clumsy as the pages increase.

Increased Development Time

Web development companies or independent web developers code from scratch for frontend and backend. They usually experience problems during the backend separation, thus taking more time to develop.

SPA vs MPA: Which is best for your business?

We have compiled a list of things to consider before making that decision. Check out the following factors:

Business Goals

Why do you think large companies like Amazon use the multi-page application? This is because Amazon uses a large amount of data due to the multiple pages on the web. If you operate a large-scale business, a multi-page application suits your business. This is so because you’ll possibly sell products or services that need multiple features to function correctly. But if you are looking for an interactive site, the single-page application is for you. 

Identifying your business goal is the first step to choosing a functional web application development service. Businesses that hope to add more pages to their web or have a large volume of data should opt for a multi-page application. A single-page application is best suited for companies that use a small volume of data.

Speed/Performance

If speed is a top priority, then a single-page application is better for your business. It doesn’t take time to load, and users prefer a seamless web interface. SPAs, as said earlier, reduce the load time, making users’ interaction with the website easier. On the other hand, a multi-page application takes time to load because each page is independent.

Google Ranking

For Google to rank your page first on search engines, it has to be SEO-optimised. And as a business owner, this is very important to generate visibility. Websites built with a multi-page application are SEO optimized because it has multiple pages, individual URL, more keywords, and Meta description, all of which increase their ranking on Google.

Alternatively, SPA websites are hard to index by Google due to JavaScript. However, a custom web application development company can hashbang URLs to increase Google ranking for SPAs.

Conclusion

Single-page applications and multi-page applications are two common applications web developers use. As established earlier in this blog, each web application model has advantages and disadvantages.

Single-page applications are easy to use because of their speed. In contrast, a multi-page application is more secure, browser-compatible, and ranks high on Google.

Before you make a choice, consider your business goals, the available resources, and your target audience. Hidden Brains has expert web developers who will take you through the web development process.