Web Development

What is Web Development?

Web development is the process of developing websites or web applications that run on the Internet (or an Intranet). It can take various forms, including database management, web programming, and web design, among others.

Key Takeaways

Web development involves creating websites and web applications.
There are three main types of web development: Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack.
The main stages of the web development process are planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Web development, web design, and web programming are closely related fields, but they focus on different aspects of creating websites and apps.
For successful website development, developers use different tools to streamline creation, testing, and maintenance.

Web Development Terms

Web development is constantly evolving. Below is a short list of commonly found terms in the space:

Responsive Design

This is when web pages are created to look good on any device and any display size.

Application Programming Interface (API)

An API is a set of rules and protocols that helps programs communicate with each other to share information.

Frameworks

These are resources and tools for web developers to be able to build and maintain websites and web apps. These include AngularJS, React.js, and Vue.js.

Document Object Model (DOM)

This is a type of language that is used for HTML or XML documents. This framework defines the structure of the documents and the way these documents are accessed or manipulated.

Bootstrap and jQuery

Bootstrap is used to create responsive and mobile-first web pages, while jQuery is used to reduce the lines of code to achieve the same end goal.?

AJAX

This helps make webpages faster by avoiding a reload each time a user makes changes to a page. Instead, AJAX just updates that part of the web page.?

Who is a Web Developer?

A web developer is responsible for applying their creativity and technical skills to create an engaging and functional website or web app.

There are three main types of web developers:

Front-end web developers: Focus on the user side of the website.
Back-end web developers: Write the code that powers the parts of the website that users do not see
Full-Stack web developers: Focus on both aspects.

The Web Development Process

Planning
Need to determine how and why the website will be used.
Design
This stage requires to map out the exact structure of the website, both aesthetically and functionally. You need to think about elements such as colors, visual elements, and user navigation.
Development
The process of writing code for a website or web app.
Testing
It’s crucial that a website is tested across multiple platforms, devices, and display sizes. This ensures that the website functions the same for everyone. The web developer will look for bugs in the code that they would have missed when writing the code.
Deployment
This is the point at which the website is published.
Maintenance
A website will always need to be updated and fixed to make sure it aligns with the evolving standards for web pages.

Types of Web Development

There are three main types of web development, each dealing with different aspects of what makes up a website:

Front-End Web Development

The user-facing side of a website. Front-end web developers ensure that visitors can easily interact with and navigate through the website.?

Back-End Web Development

The server side of a website. In other words, this is the behind-the-scenes work that creates a website’s structure. The front end would not exist without the back end.

Full-Stack Web Development

This takes into consideration the entirety of a website, including back-end and front-end development.?

Front-End Web Development Languages

Front-end web development uses three main languages to design and control the site’s appearance:

HyperText Markup Language (HTML): This is the most important language to control the structure of any website. HTML outlines basic elements like headings, paragraphs, and images.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS): CSS is the visual presentation, allows developers to style elements with various colors, fonts, and layouts. It makes sure the site is attractive and works well on all devices.
JavaScript: The language that makes web pages interactive, allowing for dynamic content such as forms and animations.

Back-End Web Development Languages

Back-end web development is essential for data processing and functionality on the server side, using powerful and flexible languages:

Python: Known for its clarity and efficiency, Python is the most used language for back-end web development, with frameworks like Django and Flask supporting fast development.
Java: An object-oriented language used for large-scale applications, Java is valued for its high performance and reliability across different platforms.
PHP: Used for dynamic web content and integrating databases, PHP supports many content management systems.
Ruby: Used for its elegant syntax, Ruby and the Rails framework offer an easy method for creating database-backed applications.
Node.js: This JavaScript runtime lets developers use JavaScript on the server side, aiding in the development of fast, scalable network applications.

Web Development vs. Web Programming, Web Design

Web development, web programming, and web design are closely related fields, but they handle different aspects of creating websites and applications.

Web development is the process of developing a website, from design to programming to server management. It includes both the technical back end (web development) and the visual front end (web design). Web developers can work on every step of this process or focus on a single aspect.

Web programming is one area of web development that is solely concerned with the functional and coding components. The code required for web applications to operate correctly is written by web programmers. This person is primarily responsible for writing code utilizing a variety of programming languages and frameworks that drive the website’s background functions in addition to its observable features.

Web design handles the front end (or aesthetic portion) of a website. Web designers concentrate on creating a visually appealing and intuitively navigable website while working on the layout and visual components.

Web Development Resources & Tools

To successfully develop a website, developers use various tools and resources to streamline creation, testing, and maintenance.

Here are some essential tools:

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

Software like Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA provide coding tools to help developers track versions and debug.

Version Control Systems

Tools such as Git help developers manage changes to the code, supporting teamwork.

Frameworks and Libraries

Frameworks and libraries help speed up development by providing pre-written code. These include React for the front end and Django for the back end.

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Systems such as MySQL and MongoDB are vital for storing data.

Testing Tools

Tools that offer automated testing for code reliability and functionality include Selenium and Jest.?

Deployment Platforms

A deployment platform is needed for a website to be hosted and scaled. Such platforms include AWS and Netlify.?

Web Development Pros & Cons

Pros

Developers have access to a multitude of tools and frameworks that allow them to design unique, flexible solutions.
Thanks to contemporary solutions like microservices, websites can now manage increases in data and user numbers more efficiently.
Effective development techniques improve website accessibility and increase audience reach.
Businesses looking to grow into online sales can benefit from robust web development.

Cons

Because high-quality web creation requires specific expertise, it can be costly.
Badly designed websites might not function well or load slowly.
Complex projects might arise from the need to manage a wide range of tools and technology.
Website security updates are necessary since they can be targeted by assaults.

The Bottom Line

Web development meaning refers to creating a framework that can hold all of the necessary components of the website, including interactive and graphic elements. Developers must possess knowledge in both coding and user experience (UX) in order to design this framework.

It’s a dynamic field that requires a variety of talents to construct user-friendly, visually appealing, and effective websites and applications. It combines various activities to achieve a single outcome, including sophisticated programming for backend functions and CSS coding for the site’s front end.

Despite challenges like the need for ongoing learning and complex security issues, the benefits of high demand for skills and diverse project opportunities make it a very attractive tech career.