What advantages do web services provide over hosted applications?
An interviewer will ask this type of question for several reasons. First, they are interested in learning about your expertise around this topic. Next, they want your opinion on which of these two methodologies for accessing applications is more effective. Finally, they want to see if your position on this subject aligns with their organization. The best way to respond to these types of questions is honestly, with a clear justification of your opinion and position on the topic.
"There are several advantages that web servers offer over hosted applications. These include their interoperability, which refers to their ability to be accessed across a wide range of devices and from remote locations. This also refers to web services being developed on interoperable platforms. Another advantage is that a single service can host multiple applications. From a developer's perspective, the code is independent of the server's system software, which provides more flexibility when writing applications. Taken together, these advantages provide efficiencies to organizations using web services."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Web services can be accessed by a range of devices in different locations. The implementation of the service can be independent of the server system software, allowing a range of languages and frameworks to be used when writing applications. I have used Heroku and AWS to deploy multiple applications without needing any knowledge of their underlying implementations.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! You have clearly explained some of the advantages of web services over hosted applications. Mentioning Heroku and AWS further strengthens your response. Nice job!
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