ELECTRICAL NOTES: Difference between UPS & Inverter

We are heavily dependent upon appliances that run on electricity such as fans, lights, AC, fridge, Computer and so on.
Whenever there is a power cut, electricity supply to these appliances is cut off and they stop working. However, if we have backup supply devices such as UPS and inverter, we can ensure Power supply to appliances and not bothered with power cuts.
However, people remain confused with the difference between a UPS and an inverter because UPS and inverters both are providing back up power supplies during main power outage.
Inverters are preferred more for general electric appliances whose working does not get affected by extended delays in power supply.
UPS are used for electronics appliances such as computer, servers, workstations, Medical Equipment which perform critical task and cannot tolerate delays in power supply.
An off-line ups (the standard) switch to the batteries in 3 to 8 milliseconds, after the main power has been lost. While Inverter changes over in about 500 milliseconds.

UPS:

UPS means uninterrupted power supply.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides uninterrupted power to the equipment. It means switching time from power cut to battery power is vey less hence important and critical equipment like computer, desktop .Medical Instruments is not switch off and we can lose data.
A UPS is a complete system that is consisting of many parts that include batteries, a charge controller, circuitry any transfer switch for switching between the mains and back-up battery, and an inverter. An inverter is needed because the battery can only store DC power and we need to convert that back to AC in order to match the appliances connected in the main power line.
UPS= Battery charger + Inverter
UPS is nothing but inverter with inbuilt battery charger.

UPS give backup only 10 to 20 minutes. The main intention of it is to provide backup only for small time so that you can save the programs and data.
UPS also gives protection against line abnormalities like Surge, Voltage fluctuation, Under Voltage, Over Voltage, Spike, Noise.

Inverter circuit simple converters battery DC current to AC and supply
In inverter inverts the direct current to an alternating current. During normal condition electrical supply is direct feed to the Load. It also takes the supply from the AC source and charges the battery.
During the power cut, the inverter receives the supply from the battery and convert it DC to AC Power and provides the power supply to the electrical equipment.
Inverters purpose is to provide power backup to total home appliances, lights, fans.
Inverter uses flat plate or tubular battery to store electricity. So it requires continuous maintenance, needs to fill the distilled water toppings at regular intervals of time.
Inverter does not give protection against line abnormalities

The UPS and inverter both provide the backup supply to the electrical system. Two major differences between the UPS and inverter are that
The switching of UPS from the main supply to the battery is very immediate so it is used to provide backup power of important or critical electronics equipment. whereas in inverter the switching from mains supply to battery takes times so it used to provide less important electrical equipment.
The UPS provide protection to the load against Spike, Voltage fluctuation, Noise while Inverter does not provide any protection to the load.