Rich Internet Application (RIA)

An RIA normally runs inside a Web browser and usually does not require software installation on the client side to work. However, some RIAs may only work properly with one or more specific browsers. For security purposes, most RIAs run their client portions within a special isolated area of the client desktop called a sandbox. The sandbox limits visibility and access to the file and operating system on the client to the application server on the other side of the connection.

This approach allows the client system to handle local activities, calculations, reformatting and so forth, thereby lowering the amount and frequency of client-server traffic, especially as compared to the client-server implementations built around so-called thin clients.

One distinguishing feature of an RIA (in contrast to other Web-based applications) is the client engine that intermediates between the user and the application server. The client engine downloads when the RIA launches. The engine can be augmented during subsequent operation with additional downloads in which the engine acts as a browser extension to handle the user interface and server communications.

Read more about Rich Internet Application (RIA): - Wikipedia has more information about RIAs. - This article from Boxesandarrows.com explains 'Usability Heuristics for Rich Internet Applications.' - For his JD on EP blog, John Dowdell explores the definition of RIA.

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