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Recent times have pushed businesses to bring up their digital marketing game. Focusing on website development being one of the things that needed to be worked on. Well, how could it not? Social media is indeed a major awareness booster. But if you really want to increase conversion rate, don’t stop with the bare minimum.
What Is Website Development?
Website development involves creating, building, and maintaining websites that operate online through a browser. It closely aligns with the work that designs a website’s functions and features.
Website development typically uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript programming languages. However, several programs, known as Content Management Systems (CMS), can be used to manage or facilitate the creation of a website. Examples of CMS include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, among others.
Typically, when building a website, the company will be guided by what the customers needs and wants. This is done to ensure the website can deliver excellent user experience that doesn’t confuse customers
Source: Pexels
Why Website Development is Important?
The Internet has become a gateway for research, connection, education, and entertainment in the world. It is here to stay. As of 2021, there were 4.66 billion global Internet users, representing more than half the world’s population.
The rapid development of web development is in line with the growing number of Internet users. Web developers are expected to see employment growth of 13% by 2030, much quicker than other technology professions.
The Fundamental of Web Development
After we introduced you why the website development is important, now is time to know the fundamental of website development.
The Web is made up of three interrelated components.
- Website: A website is a file stored on a server, and these servers are connected to the Internet to store and provide data to website visitors. The connection is called the Internet.
- Server: A server process and deliver website content through HTTP and other protocols in response to requests from users across the World Wide Web. Web servers are composed of software and hardware.
- Browser: Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, is a computer program that loads websites over the Internet. A client is a computer used to access these websites.
Every website has a frontend (client side) and a backend (server side). The frontend includes everything the user sees and experiences when they visit a website. The backend is the part where information is stored, sent, and received behind the scenes.
The content you’re viewing right now, including everything you see on the website, is composed of HTML, CSS, and Javascript files. A web developer must master those fundamental languages in order to build web pages.
Source: Unsplash
Types Of Website Development
A person who works on website development is known as a website developer. To be a good website developer, one must be familiar with the different kinds of website development. So that they are not limited to only being able to do one type of web development.
1. Front-end development
Front-end development focuses on building User Interface (UI) that helps web visitors fulfill the reason they are on the website in the first place. In other words, a front-end developer has to make sure web visitors can easily interact with the page.
2. Back-end development
To put it simply, if front-end development is what customers see while using the website, back-end development is what they don’t see. A back-end developer’s job is to manage a website, program, and software so that all the website features work properly. Back-end development focuses on things like server, system operation, API, and database.
3. Full-stack development
Full-stack development is basically a combination of front-end and back-end development. Full-stack developers are expected to be able to build a website, apps, or software programs from start to finish. The word “stack” refers to the various technologies they will handle on the same website, such as servers, UI, etc.
Source: Canva
Website Development Process
The web development work process isn’t an easy thing to do. Each kind of web development has its own work process, as well as different resource needs.
However, generally, here are some of the common processes that a website developer goes through:
1. Planning
Before writing or typing, you must first connect with your teams and personnel to create a website plan.
Before starting on your first site draft, consider these questions:
- What is the propose of your website?
- Who is your website for, and what action do you want them to take?
- What kind of website are you building? (e.g. basic informational, membership, online store)
- What volume of content do you want to publish?
- What’s your budget?
You must interface with your web development, marketing, and financial teams to determine your priorities and make informed choices in answering the questions.
Creating a roadmap at the start of the process is much simpler than going backwards when you hit a roadblock
2. Create a wireframe
A website’s blueprint is known as a wireframe. It provides a vision for the site that both you and your developer(s) can use to gain direction and start working. You may draw it on a whiteboard or create it using a tool like Figma.
You can get a sense of how your content will appear on the front end by using blank boxes and “dummy text.” Wireframes are strictly visual tools that will help you determine where text and images appear on individual webpages. Your developer should be familiar with your vision after you create wireframes together.
3. Draft a sitemap
Sitemaps (not to be confused with sitemap.XML, a XML file that helps search engines crawl and discover your site) are the next step. A sitemap describes your objectives and outcomes in the same way that a business plan does for an investor in order to help developers fulfil your dreams. You may create your sitemap yourself, or with the assistance of your developer(s).
It is worth consulting with other departments within your company when developing your linking structure and page categorization. If you have an SEO or content marketing team, they will play a critical role in providing input.
4. Write the website code
Once you’ve decided on a design and functionality, the coding phase is next. Developers use different coding languages on the front-end and back-end of websites as well as for different website features (such as design, interactivity, etc.). These (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) languages combine to create and operate your website.
Nearly every website uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in some way. Those three languages are fundamental to website development knowledge. There are other server-side languages like Java, C++, Python, and SQL, but comprehending these three is critical.
5. Build the back end
Although coding is one of the more complicated aspects of web development, it is just one part of the process. You also must build your back-end and front-end website structures and designs. Let’s start with the back-end.
The back-end handles the data required to operate the front-end. For example, Instagram’s back-end stores the photos so that the front-end can display them.
A back-end is slightly tangential to web development if you don’t need one to save information. A back-end is used to save and persist user-entered data. Imagine logging into a website. How would they remember your login information if they didn’t have a back-end? What about your account settings? To obtain this information, you need a back-end.
6. Build the front end
Having dabbled in web design or toyed with a website in WordPress, Squarespace, or Google Sites, you’ve already experienced front-end web development. Visitors, customers, and users see the front-end stuff, it’s critical. It’s what they see and how they utilize your website.
A front-end development comprises JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It controls components like typography and fonts, navigation, positioning, browser compatibility and responsiveness, as well as other JavaScript-based features. This part will emphasize your initial website vision and what you conceptualized in your wireframe.
7. Set your domain name
Now your website has an IP address. In addition, it requires a domain name, a memorable website name that your visitors can use to find your site.
Domain names can be purchased from sites like GoDaddy and Niagahoster, which help you register with ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). When you register a domain name, it is usually valid for one year before you must renew it.
8. Launch the site
Once you’ve linked your host to a domain name, you’re close to releasing your work to the world.
However, there are still a few things you must finish before your site goes live. These include arranging your team’s duties, checking your website thoroughly for errors, optimizing it for search engine optimization (SEO), and ensuring everything is in order before flipping the switch and releasing it to the public.
Source: Pexels
The Success of Website Development
What are the key components of success in website development? Achieving proficiency in the field of website development involves mastering a diverse set of skills essential for professional growth.
- Programming Expertise
The foundation of website development is robust coding abilities. Understanding programming languages like HTML and CSS is crucial, but that’s just the starting point. Given the dynamic nature of technology, a developer’s willingness to continuously explore new programming methods is critical.
- Precision and Analysis
The task of code testing and debugging demands an exceptional level of precision. Developers need strong analytical abilities to identify problems and find solutions efficiently, which is fundamental in website development.
- Innovation and Creativity
Beyond technical capabilities, building successful websites requires creativity. Developers must creatively merge user experience, search engine optimization (SEO), and other key website development aspects to produce engaging and effective sites.
Need Help with Website Development?
Working in website development often means collaborating with others, even for those who might primarily work solo. Understanding the broader goals of an organization, such as the marketing or sales objectives, is vital for creating impactful websites. Skills in collaborating with user experience designers or content creators are also crucial.
For web developers, community resources are a treasure trove of information, from job hunting to navigating complex coding issues. Experienced professionals in website development recommend engaging with these communities as a way to tap into a wealth of knowledge and support.
Website development takes a lot of time to learn. If you need a website developed urgently and don’t have the time to learn, don’t worry. Contact us at Pixie Digital and let us do the magic for you.