register

WHAT IS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

Back
02
Aug 2018

Planning to launch your first ever website? You should definitely have an all-around image of what web development is as a whole. The term might be a bit vague, but it mostly implies the creation of web pages based on HTML and CSS (sometimes, JavaScript with PHP are added to the bunch). Let’s dig into this topic a little more so that you, being a developer or a future website owner, would be up to date at least with the basics of this niche of IT.

WHAT IS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT - 30

How web pages work?

Let’s start off with a browser. Basically, it is a special application that compiles text files created with the help of HTML (web pages in essence) into a format comprehensible for humans. Particularly, HTML allows to format text blocks and embed hyperlinks and media files (images, video and audio files) into them. HTML or Hypertext Markup Language is used to define the format and markup of web pages. Special tags are used for that – e.g. the <h1> tag defines a first-level heading; the <img /> allows uploading images to a page; etc.</h1>

The end visual representation of a web page can also be customized with CSS styles. CSS styles define the size of font in h1 and h2 headings and how separate components are displayed on a page (location of the text, etc.).

In fact, the CSS helps to separate content of a page from its representation. This makes customization significantly simpler. Before, when only HTML was used for the creation of websites, in order to change font color, one had to define it in each command where this font is used.

A website must be connected to the dedicated server to reach public. A browser combined with HTTP or HTTPS protocols are used to establish connection to the server. Each time a user visits a resource, the server receives a request.

If the requested data is available, the server delivers them to a user through browser in the form of compiled HTML, CSS, and, optionally, JavaScript – a programming language required for displaying dynamic content and creating interactive web elements. Particularly, JS provides a direct interconnection with the DOM of a web page.

Two common website creation approaches

A new resource can either be built from scratch, solely with the help of HTML and CSS capacities (you’ll also require additional skills in JavaScript and PHP if you want your web solution to feature dynamic content), or based on a readymade platform – CMS – e.g. WordPress, Magento, Joomla, Wix, etc. (frameworks are chosen depending on your particular project definition – it can be a blog, an online store, a business card-type website, corporate website, etc.). The latter approach means that you’re to work with a working, customizable template that can be adapted to serve your particular business purposes. In the long run, even the basic programming knowledge isn’t required to build a solution via CMS.

Usually, original and exclusive sites with unique elements are built from scratch. The initial idea can be fully implemented easily and more efficiently with custom approach as you may as well not find a fitting template. Custom building is quite resource-intense but in the end, you get a fully-adapted to your business needs product.

WHAT IS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT - 31

The development is cheaper and faster with CMS templates. You can also employ a variety of existing plugins to customize existing functionality.

Then, there are 4 specific web development approaches we’d like to highlight.

What is eCommerce website development?

Ecommerce website is a resource where products and services can be purchased. People use them to buy various things with the help of digital transactions via banking cards, e-wallets, and specialized online services like PayPal. In order to enable transactional features, personal accounts are provided and a payment gateway is integrated with the resource.

What is mobile website development?

Mobile website is created especially to be launched via mobile devices, usually, through mobile browsers. The capabilities of HTML and XHTML 1.0 mobile are used to construct mobile web pages. The crucial parameters to consider with such a type of resources is their performance (speed of load in the mobile browser), adaptability (to different device dimensions and browser versions), and usability (visibility of elements, accessibility of navigation, etc.).

WHAT IS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT - 32

What is custom website development?

Custom website development is a process where online resources are created by strictly adhering to the owner requirements. Large-scale corporations are usually most interested in the development of custom products. Here, web designers have a huge responsibility to deliver an owner/client exactly the visuals they asked for.

What is dynamic website development?

JavaScript is employed in the creation of web resources featuring dynamic content as we’ve already mentioned. In such a case, each page is compiled by user request dynamically on the server side. This allows for implementing interactive elements that operate immediately, without any downtimes. It also makes new elements load automatically without the need to refresh a page manually.

Conclusion

WHAT IS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT - 33

Website development is a big term. We tried to give you a general image of what it basically is and what niches are there to it. In any case, we can help you get an amazing, unique readymade website! Our team consists of experienced developers used to always building something unique – both for business and your personal purposes. We will gladly cooperate with your!

Ilya Smyrnov

Author: Ilya Smyrnov

Position: CEO, Business analyst

Biography: Более 8 лет занимаюсь анализом бизнесов клиентов и повышаю их эффективность с помощью внедрения IT-решений.

Thank you for your interest!

We will contact you soon