'RIA' is a second generation of web applications that have some of the characteristics of desktop applications. It is generally used to describe a browser-based application that uses some other intermediary layer of technology (AJAX, Flex etc.) between the server and the browser, negating the need to make HTTP calls.
RIAs extend the design limitations and interaction constraints of traditional HTML applications. With RIA, users can implement a wider range of controls to improve users’ interaction with the site. In conventional web pages, when a user clicks on a button or hyperlink the whole page will be reloaded. Whereas in RIA, the whole page doesn't reload; only the data or other content related to the action is updated. Users can experience real-time results to their actions.
With RIA, users can concentrate on any task at hand because they are never delayed or distracted by the interface. It is now possible to build RIA-like Web applications that run in all modern browsers without the need of special run-times or plug-ins.
It is easy to design, develop, deploy and debug RIA-based web applications rather than traditional web applications.
In short, RIA offers a responsive and seamless interface.
