A browser-based application, also known as a web application, is designed to be accessed through a web browser. Its primary architectural advantage is portability. The application's code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is interpreted by the browser, allowing it to run on any device and operating system that has a compatible browser installed. This "write once, run anywhere" approach is a defining characteristic, making it independent of the specific device's hardware or native operating system.

A. It is designed to exercise capabilities of a particular device

This describes a native application, which is built specifically for an OS (e.g., iOS, Android) to leverage unique device hardware like the GPS or accelerometer.

B. It runs on the device

This statement is imprecise. While the client-side portion runs in the browser on the device, the core application logic often runs on a remote server. The term better describes a native application, which is fully installed and executed by the device's OS.

D. It is generally faster than a native application

This is incorrect. Native applications are compiled for the specific platform and have direct access to system resources, which almost always results in superior performance and speed compared to browser-based applications.

1. ISTQB® Advanced Level Test Analyst Syllabus (2019): Section 4.4.1, "Portability Testing," defines portability as "The degree to which a component or system can be effectively and efficiently transferred from one hardware, software or other operational or usage environment to another." This principle is the core concept behind option C, as browser-based applications are designed to be transferred across different device environments via the browser.

2. Heitkötter, H., Hanschke, S., & Majchrzak, T. A. (2013). Evaluating Cross-Platform Development Approaches for Mobile Applications. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies (WEBIST 2012), pages 120-138. This academic paper compares application types, stating, "Web Apps are platform-independent applications running in a browser... they are portable across platforms without any modifications" (p. 122). It also confirms that native apps have superior performance and device feature access, directly refuting options A and D. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5220/0003852301200138

3. University of Washington, CSE 154 Courseware: In lectures on Web Programming, the distinction is made clear. "Web apps run on any device with a browser (desktop, mobile, etc.)... Native apps are platform-specific (e.g., must be written for iOS or Android)." This material emphasizes the portability (option C) of web/browser-based applications as a key differentiator.