In essence, website development refers to every related development task that goes into creating a website including server-side scripting, client-side scripting, eCommerce development, network and server security configurations, and content management system (CMS) development.
In other words, website development encompasses all the updates, operations, and actions that are required to maintain, manage, and build a website to warrant its user experience, speed, and performance are optimal. The professionals that maintain websites are called website developers.
Website developers are also commonly referred to as web devs. Web development is the programming or coding that covers website functionality per the requirement of the owners. It deals primarily with the aspects of website building that are non-design including writing markup and coding.
Web development also deals with electronic business applications, complex web-based applications and plain text pages, and social network applications, among others. The hierarchy of website development is client-side coding, server-side coding, and database technology.
Most website developers develop websites using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JavaScript, and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). HTML defines the website’s basic framework. In other words, it is the main foundation upon which everything else will be built upon.
However, while you can code a website on HTML alone, it will only serve as a barebone site with no functions unless enriched using JavaScript and CSS. CSS on the other hand is used to style the website’s content by utilizing a small set of files that are kept across the website.
Taking care of the interactivity of the website’s unique developments is the JavaScript programming language. JavaScript is also used to create the effects that can alter the look of drop-down menus and icons. It is also used to add games, animations, and other interactive elements to the website.
Website developers are typically divided into three: front-end, back-end, and full-stack web developers. Front-end web developers are responsible for the visual effects of the website such as the navigation bar, layout, etc. It also takes care of the interactivity and binds all the elements together.
Back-end developers, as the name implies, take care of those tasks that are less visible but will help ensure the website runs as smoothly as possible. Back-end tasks include managing the hosting services, applications, and the database. Back-end devs alos typically use server-side languages like Ruby, PHP, Java, and Python.
Full-stack developers on the other hand can handle both front and back-end tasks simultaneously. Depending on the complexity, full-stack developers are responsible for all the facets of the development. Full-stack devs are also responsible for identifying programming languages that can help strengthen the site’s web capabilities.
Skills Required for Success
Below are a few of the important skills website developers need to have to become successful in the field:
- Creative thinking. For a website to be successful, they need to be able to attract and keep users. They also need to be visible to search engines. Web developers need to be creative so they can pull together all the elements of a successful website.
- Programming abilities. To become a great web developer, you need strong coding skills and programming languages mastery. Since technology can evolve very fast, your ability to keep up by learning new coding techniques is very important.
- Attention to detail. Debugging and testing codes will require both analytical skills and patience. Only then will you be able to accurately troubleshoot what the potential problem may be and the effective solutions that you can use to fix them.
