VS confusing option: converting web-application to web-application

Question

Could anyone explain, why is there an option to convert an Asp.Net Web-application (both Web Forms and MVC) to convert to a Web-application.

This might be something of a help for web-site template but why for Web-application ? Is this

Thanks

Answer 1

This question should help you out:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1002981/creating-a-new-website-on-iis-application-vs-virtual-directory-whats-the-diffe

"There are a few differences, here are the biggest:

In IIS 6 and up, you can assign a Web Application a certain "protection" level. (e.g. protection levels, application pools, etc). You can't do this with Virtual Directories. If you are working with ASP.NET, the search for the master "Web.config" file for your application stops at your application level. For a working directory it will actually check your parent hierarchy for settings as well. These are the two biggest differences in my opinion, although there are other small ones as well." - mjmarsh