The field of web development has undergone many changes since its beginnings in the 90s. The growing profession of full stack web developer , or specialized as a front-end or back-end developer , is also influenced by the increasingly specific requirements of Internet users.
Fortunately, there are also more and more tools available that allow the creation of interactive and tailor-made sites that respond in a relevant way to user demand.
What is web development?
Web development is a field of activity consisting of creating websites, web pages and applications accessible via the Internet.
Typically, the developer writes code in a computer language such as Javascript, C#, or CSS in a file stored on a server. Upon request, the browser retrieves the elements needed to display the site or application on the screen.
What are the 3 categories of web development?
- Front-end development
- Back-end development
- Full stack development
1 – Front-end development
Front-end development is also called client-side web development, where the client is the browser, and front-end web development. Front-end development is the process of programming everything that a user can see and do on the screen. When a user reads a blog post, perfectly structured and formatted, and then watches a video that they can pause at will, it is thanks to the work of front-end development.
Front-end development mainly uses three computer languages:
HTML markup language: HTML code describes the structure and content of a web page. It is with HTML that the front-end web developer tells the browser how to display the elements of the page: as headings, paragraphs, lists or redirect links. The developer writes the text between the HTML tags.
CSS language: CSS code describes the layout of the web page. Fonts, text colors, arrangement of elements or even image sizes: the design of the page is managed with CSS, which plays a sort of aesthetic role in web development.
JavaScript programming language: JavaScript code allows you to add and control dynamic and interactive elements on a page or web application. When a user enlarges a map, scrolls through a slideshow of photos or fills out a form, it is thanks to JavaScript.
To do front-end web development, you need to master these languages. To facilitate and speed up the coding work, it is also important to master the use of JavaScript libraries and frameworks. These are pieces of pre-written and customizable code.
Concretely, front-end development consists of writing code in a text editor, saving the file and storing it on a server. When an Internet user enters the URL specified in the file, the website or web application appears, functional, on the screen. In a central accessibility issue, the front-end developer ensures that the result is displayed identically on all types of screens, and can be viewed by all web users.
2 – Back-end development
Back-end development is also called server-side web development. This activity consists of programming all the elements of a website or web application that are invisible to the user. When a user fills out a form on a website, for example, it is the back-end that manages the data entered, according to the instructions programmed by the web developer.
Different computer languages are used for back-end development:
PHP, the widely used server-side programming language for developing websites.
JavaScript, in the Node.js environment.
Python, notably via the Django framework.
The difference between back-end and front-end development is seen in the recipient of the code: the back-end developer addresses his instructions to the server while the front-end developer addresses the browser. In web development, the back-end manages databases, APIs and security, to ensure the technical functioning of the site or web application. The front-end manages its visual appearance and user functionality.
3 – Full stack development
Full stack development combines front-end development and back-end development. This category of web development consists of programming a site or application from end to end, using client-side and server-side computer languages. The full stack developer is versatile and generalist.
What are the stages of website development?
- Project planning and setting up specifications.
- The design of the tree structure and zoning.
- The creation of graphic models.
- The development of the pages.
- The hosting configuration.
- The online release.
- SEO optimization.
- Site maintenance.
1 – Project planning and establishment of specifications
Planning a web development project involves building a sitemap. This determines the vision of the site, useful to all developers who will be involved in the project. Generally called a wireframe , the sitemap can be schematized on a board, by hand, or created using tools such as Invision.
Concretely, the sitemap concentrates all the expectations of the sponsor of the website or mobile application. It materializes the expected final result, and is therefore extremely useful for developers.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when creating a sitemap, to help articulate needs and expectations:
- What pages should be created on the site (sections, topics to be covered, etc.)?
- What content should be produced for these pages?
- Should I create categories to group pages?
- How are the different pages of the website structured?
- Is there a hierarchy between page levels?
If the site plan or wireframe is not an official document, the specifications play this essential role. It formalizes the objectives to be achieved at the end of the project while integrating the technical, aesthetic and functional constraints.
The specifications allow you to define different issues and start to answer them. If the site or application development project is entrusted to a web agency, the specifications allow you to put several of them in competition on an exactly identical request.
Several pieces of information are included in the specifications. First of all, you need to talk about the company: its products or services, the nature of its activity. This is important data for the future service provider. It is also necessary to specify whether it is a redesign or a creation.
The specifications also indicate the type of website desired: a showcase site, an e-commerce store, a blog or even an institutional site. Finally, it is essential to provide all the elements related to the visual identity of the brand: logo, graphic charter, fonts. The content to be integrated into the website is provided later: texts, photos, videos and illustrations.
2 – Design of the tree structure and zoning
The tree structure of the future website is designed from the sitemap. The tree structure is simply a diagram that visually represents the articulations between the different pages of the website or application.
The home page is at the very top, and the pages below flow from each other. When redesigning, the tree structure is very useful for highlighting inequalities in the distribution of pages. It is then a question of comparing the current tree structure with a new one, which integrates or removes levels of pages.
The tree structure is one of the essential tools of any web development project. Developers must be able to refer to it during the coding phase to have a quick view of the hierarchy of pages. They generally start by developing the home page, then the top-level pages, to go deeper and deeper into the site.
Zonings complete the visual design of the functional organization of the site. These are diagrams whose purpose is to reflect the positioning of blocks of elements (texts, buttons, menus, logos). At this stage, no colors or graphic elements are integrated .
Creating zonings saves a considerable amount of time during the development phase. Zonings define the functional aspect of the website without taking into account its graphic aspect. Priority is given to ergonomics, an essential aspect of the future user experience. It is then possible to start coding the site in HTML before the graphic choices are validated.
3 – Creation of graphic models
Graphic mockups are created as a continuation of functional mockups (zonings and wireframes). They integrate graphic aspects: fonts, colors, rounding, visual effects, etc. In short, they concretize the work of UX designers on the future interface.
For developers, coding the graphic model identically is rarely possible. Their job requires taking into account the variability of screens, and therefore of renderings. To be usable, graphic models must be created on a graphic editing software such as Photoshop, or from a portion of simple code in HTML and CSS.
4 – Page development
Page development involves creating each web page as it should appear on the user’s browser screen. This involves writing code using various front-end programming languages .
Web developers almost always use 3 languages: HTML, CSS and Javascript. These are the basic front-end development languages, which allow you to structure pages, then add graphic elements and a basic level of interactivity.
5 – Hosting configuration
Front-end development, while it involves everything that is seen by users, does not represent the entire web development work. Back-end design is equally important to ensure the proper functioning of the site. The back-end includes servers as well as databases. Each server represents an intermediary between a database and the browser on which the Internet user connects to access the website.
When creating a website, the web developer is responsible for configuring its hosting. This involves working on the site’s infrastructure and determining who will host the site. He has the option of choosing a website host whose offer consists of selling storage space for websites (the server is then remote), or of hosting the site himself, if he has a local server. Hosting services generally offer to buy a domain name for the website.
6 – Putting online
The online phase begins when all back-end and front-end development steps are validated. Putting the site online requires the prior reservation of a domain name, and the subscription of a hosting package adapted to the website. In addition, software is required to switch the website data from the local storage space to the selected remote server.
Of course, going live occurs after all the pages of a website have been tested. This phase is called “testing”. As soon as the site is ready to meet its audience, the site is shared via a URL or social networks. To ensure good visibility, working on the SEO strategy is essential. Having a well-built site is not enough, you have to make sure that it is seen.
7 – SEO optimization
Carrying out natural referencing work is an essential condition for making a site visible and accessible. The advantage of SEO optimization of a new website is that the room for maneuver is much greater than on a site that has already lived, and on which errors must be corrected.
To maximize the chances of seeing web pages positioned at the top of search engine results, it is important to focus on the value of the content. This involves keyword research. The goal: to have an exhaustive list of keywords and queries that should be integrated into the texts. The keywords must be closely linked to the service or product offering marketed by the company.
Good SEO also requires an effective link strategy: internal links (internal meshing) and external links (partnerships with high authority sites) improve SEO. Filling in metadata tags, as well as image tags, also contributes to the good SEO of web pages.
8 – Site maintenance
The mission of a web developer does not end with the website being put online. Moreover, it is when a website enters into communication with the outside that the obstacles encountered can become more difficult to deal with. This is why, if necessary, it is essential to take out a maintenance contract with the agency in charge of web development.
Carrying out maintenance operations throughout the life cycle of a site is essential, for one simple reason: a web tool is bound to evolve, whether it involves migrating it from one hosting to another, changing the theme or sorting through the features added since its creation.
Maintenance therefore helps to guarantee the stability of a website and prevent it from becoming obsolete. It is an integral part of the web developer’s job.
What are the important terms to know in web development?
- The website centralizes a set of web pages linked together. It is accessible from the Internet.
- The IP address ( Internet Protocol Address ) is the number that uniquely identifies each device in an internal or external network.
- The Hypertext Transfer Protocol ( HTTP ) provides communication between a browser and a server on the World Wide Web.
- Code is the text that details the instructions for a computer program, software, or web page, in a programming language.
- Programming languages are languages that describe all the actions that a computer will have to perform.
- Front-end development is the design by a dedicated developer, or a full stack developer , of the graphical interface on which the user interacts.
- Back-end development consists of setting up everything that allows the site to function. In fact, the work of a back-end developer is based around 3 axes: the server, the database, and the site itself.
- CMS ( Content Management System ) is a management software whose purpose is to easily create and update a website.
Conclusion
In conclusion, web development has advanced significantly since its inception, adapting to the specific needs of internet users and technological advancements. Today’s web developers, whether front-end, back-end, or full stack, utilize a range of tools and languages to create interactive and customized websites and applications.
The development process involves meticulous planning, design, coding, hosting configuration, SEO optimization, and ongoing maintenance to ensure a functional and user-friendly website. Partnering with top-tier web design services can help businesses achieve a robust, dynamic, and optimized online presence, ensuring their website stands out in a competitive digital landscape.
