A method for creating a web-based database application that is data dictionary driven is disclosed. A web site, containing various computer programs, data for a database application and a data dictionary describing both the structure of an application database and the requirements for the database application, creates web pages for facilitating the execution of a database application over the internet. The method comprises the steps of creating, updating and maintaining an on-line data dictionary, and creating and initially populating a database for the application. The various programs at the web site create web pages for the application, update the data dictionary and facilitate modification of the data structure for the application. The data dictionary may be initialized: from electronic data uploaded to the web site; from the data-dictionary records describing an existing web-based application; or directly by the user via a web interface. The resulting application allows the user to enter information, view information, select the records to be viewed, and make changes to the application such as form captions, fields displayed, colors used, database structure, and other contents of the data dictionary.