Website development also referred to as web development is the process of developing, designing websites and maintaining web-based applications that operate in the browser. However, it could also refer to the design of websites, Web programming and managing databases.
The development of websites is linked to the task of creating the functionality and features of applications (web designs). The term “development” is typically used to describe the actual development of these items (that is, the programming of websites).
The primary tools utilized in web development are the programming languages, such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript. However, several other software applications are used to “manage” or facilitate the development of sites that would otherwise need to be created “from scratch” by writing code. Many CMS for content management (CMS) are included in this category, including WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, TYPO3, and Adobe Experience Manager.
What do you mean by Web Development?
Web design is mostly connected to the task of creating the functions and features of apps and websites (often known as “web design”). However, “web development” is a more specific term “web development” term is typically applied to the building and development of apps and websites.
Consider all the web pages you’ve visited in the past – Web Developers built those sites and ensured that they functioned correctly and in ways that provided an enjoyable user experience. Web Developers accomplish this by writing code, employing several programming languages that vary according to their task and the platform they are working on.
Web Development vs. Web Design
While there is a crossover, there are important distinctions in web design and development. Let’s have a look:
Web Designers:
- Create all the information that a user will see on a software or website product that includes every graphic, color, typography and usability components
- Directly with clients to design designs or collaborate as part of the team to design clients’ vision
- You may require the knowledge about a language for programming, some programming skills, or some familiarity with commonly used languages like HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript
- Make wireframes and prototyping to explore design concepts, provide feedback on logos and designs branding, corporate style, and brand guidelines.
Web Developers:
- Write the code that will make an application function, whether it’s either on the front or the back end (server-side)
- Develop or implement designs asked by a customer or designed by a design team
- You will require expert-level expertise in several programming languages, such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS, PHP and JavaScript and also expanding into other programming languages (Ruby C/C++ Python) Frameworks, tools and libraries
- Rarely do you create mockups, pick the typography or colors palettes
What Are the Most Common Programming Languages?
The most commonly used programming languages used in web development include:
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
- JavaScript
Types of Web Development
There are three primary kinds of Web development: front-end design back-end development and full-stack development.
What Is Front-End Development?
The Front-end web development is developing the “client-facing” side of web development. This means that front-end web development generally relates to the part of the website, app, or digital product that the user will view and interact with.
- Front-End Web Developers are focused on translating the design of websites and concepts into code. Front-end Software Developer takes the design concepts of other members of the web design teams, and turns these ideas into reality, serving as an intermediary between technology and design.
- Front-End developers will typically need to be able to comprehend a broad range of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in addition to frameworks such as React, Bootstrap, Backbone, AngularJS, and EmberJS.
The responsibilities of a Front-End Developer could include:
- Creating responsive websites (that appear and function properly on all devices).
- Conducting tests on websites.
- Fixing any issues discovered during the development process.
- Ensuring that the structure of the website adheres to SEO best guidelines.
Front-End Development Jobs
In contrast to back-end development, there are many job titles that span various skill sets and levels of experience within front-end development. Examples include:
- Front-End Developer
- Front-End Engineer
- CSS/HTML Web Developer
- Front-End Web Designer (this typically refers to a job that requires more interaction and visual design specifications)
- Front-End User Interface Developer (covering interaction design skills)
- Mobile Front-End Web Developer
- Front-End SEO Expert (usually being a developer who has prior experience in incorporating SEO strategy)
- Front-End Accessibility Expert
- Front-End-QA (involving Functional testing and unit tests, user testing A/B testing, and unit testing)
What Is Back-End Development?
If Front-End Developers are accountable for the way that a digital item appears, Back-End Development is focused on the way it functions. Back-End Developers create the fundamental framework for the website before taking care of it and ensuring that it operates as it should.
This includes interaction with databases, authentication for users server, network, hosting configuration, and also business logic. Behind the scenes or server-side – Back-End Developers focus on the structures and systems that enable computer programs to function as they wish.
The main task for Back-End Developers lies in ensuring the website’s performance and responsiveness and speed. In order to do this, Back-End Developers need to understand how to create servers that use modern frameworks (while creating custom APIs and serving static websites and files) and the best way to handle databases and other data on the web server.
Typically, Back-End Developers employ programming languages that run on servers, such as PHP, Ruby, and Python, along with tools such as MySQL, Oracle, and Git.
What Is a Full-Stack Developer?
A Full-Stack developer who is proficient in front-end and back-end development. Full-Stack Developers typically know the vast array of programming languages. As a result offered more responsibility in projects than developers with a focus.
They are generalists, proficient in balancing both roles, and proficient with all levels of development. Naturally, employers would like to recruit Full-Stack Developers. as per the findings of an Indeed study, they’re the fourth most sought-after job in the field of technology.
If the title is a source of contention is due to its generalist job. Developers specializing in the front-end or back-end usually scoff at the idea that someone can be equally proficient in both. The phrase “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” comes to mind.
“My defense mechanisms are typically at a high alert whenever I hear the word “magic” (‘full-stack ‘),” wrote Front-End Developer Andy Shore. “Stacks are significantly larger than they used to be. Being able to say that one has gained expertise in every level of web-based development is not a small thing to boast about.
However, there is still an increase in the number of tech professionals calling them Full-Stack developers. According to the most recent Stack Overflow poll of developers, 48.2 percent consider themselves Full-Stack Developers.
It needs to be clarified whether Developers now have to have a wider range of skills or if they’re making it their responsibility to comprehend the functions of both the front-end and the back-end. Whatever the case it’s becoming more important for those who want to become Developers to possess the foundations in both.
“For most people hoping to break into web improvement, you should center on working up an establishment in both front-end and back-end advancement first,” advised Technical Writer and Software Engineer “At that point, you can float towards a claim to fame later on.”
