What Is a Single-Page Application (SPA)? Pros & Cons With Examples

Rafael Carvalho

Senior Developer

Originally published on Nov 29, 2017Last updated on Jan 5, 2023

Key Takeaways

What is the difference between Single-page Applications and web applications?

Single-page Applications (SPAs) are a subset of web applications. Instead of working by making multiple requests between the client and the server, it provides client-side Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, two-way data binding, templates and dependency injection.

When should you not use a SPA?

If the application is simple in nature, you have a limited budget, the initial page load time is a top priority or you are trying to reduce the amount of effort or time needed to debug – Single-page Applications may not be the best solution for you.

What is an example of Multi-page Applications?

MPAs are a simpler option when designing monolithic applications that only have one state. Amazon and eBay are two great examples of MPAs.

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