No matter what you do, a digital presence is one of your most critical investments. As Paul Cookson has rightly said, “Websites promote you 24/7: no employee would do that. The pandemic accelerated its importance exponentially, yet only 71% of small businesses report having their website. This reflects the lack of awareness, and it's time you skip its cons.
In addition, web development takes work and time. We agree that the low-code or trendy no-code platforms have made the process much more accessible than it was, especially to laypeople.
But building an attractive, high-performing, yet usable website or web application still demands extensive expertise and knowledge.
Fortunately, the latest web development technologies have made the development process less complex and time-consuming, promising a better ride for businesses.
Several questions strike hard. How does this development process work? And what can we expect shortly?
MarsDevs introduces you to the world of web development and makes it easier for you to be a part of your business following the development process. Here's what you should know.
What do we mean by web development?
Web development is the process that we use to create and maintain websites. It involves various tasks such as designing the layout and user interface, coding the site's functionality using languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and configuring servers to host the site.
Web development is a broad field that encompasses many different disciplines and technologies.
Web development's core is the ability to create and structure web pages using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). HTML provides a web page's basic design and layout, including headings, paragraphs, lists, images, and links. We can use it to create the content of a web page, but it has yet to have any styling or layout capabilities.
So, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) comes in. CSS allows developers to control the layout and styling of a web page, including the colors, fonts, and spacing. It provides a way to separate the presentation of a web page from its content, making it easier to maintain and update.
JavaScript adds interactivity and dynamic functionality to web pages. We can use it to create drop-down menus, forms, and image sliders, and it also allows for building web apps such as single-page and progressive web apps.
Web development also includes server-side programming, the code that runs on the server that serves the web pages to the client. Server-side programming languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java create dynamic web pages that can change based on user input and other factors.
Using these languages, we can develop forms, user authentication, and e-commerce functionality.
Web development also includes configuring and maintaining servers that host the website. This includes setting up a domain name, choosing a hosting provider, and configuring security settings to keep the site and its users safe from hackers. Web developers also need to ensure that the site is optimized for search engines and that people with disabilities can access it.
Web development is a constantly evolving field, with new technologies and best practices emerging all the time. To keep up with the latest trends, web developers must be dedicated to learning and staying current with the latest developments in their field.
This can include attending conferences, taking online web development courses, and experimenting with new technologies.
Is web development important at all?
Web development is critical for companies, organizations, and individuals because it provides a platform for communication, marketing, and commerce.
First and foremost, web development is essential for communication. The internet has become the primary means of communication for many people, and websites are the direct way to share information and connect with others online.
As Leland Dieno, marketing specialist, says, “Your website is the center of your digital eco-system, like a brick-and-mortar location. The experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as their perception of you before they walk through the door.
Websites allow businesses to share their products and services with customers, allowing individuals to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world.
In addition, web development plays a vital role in marketing and advertising. A well-designed and functional website can be a powerful marketing tool, allowing businesses to reach a global audience and increase their visibility.
We can use websites to showcase products and services, provide detailed information about a business, and even allow customers to make purchases directly from the site.
Web development is also crucial for e-commerce. With the rise of online shopping, web development has become increasingly important for businesses selling products and services online. A well-designed and user-friendly e-commerce site can make it easy for customers to find what they're looking for and make purchases quickly and securely.
Trend reports enable us to keep up with the fast-moving world and update us on what to expect next.
According to research by team Google, it takes a visitor around five seconds before they form an opinion of your site. Thus, good, user-friendly design is one of the most critical components. Studies report that 38% of visitors stop engaging with a website if they do not like the content.
38% might sound like a small number. But that is not it. Almost 90% of consumers report that they shop the competition if they encounter a poor user experience.
MarsDevs presents you with some eye-opening website development statistics that you need to keep in mind
47% of users expect a maximum load time of around two seconds for any average website.
Retailers lose about $2.6 billion each year due to slow-loading websites.
Mobile devices generated 31% of all retail e-commerce in 2021.
About 75% of consumers report judging a company's credibility based on its website's design.
Studies found that 46% of consumers in the survey made decisions regarding the credibility of websites solely based on their visual appeal.
An overview of the Future of Web Development in the near future
Web development and its possibilities keep evolving. New web development technologies keep constantly emerging to gain traction and make a change. MarsDevs introduces what might be next in this swiftly evolving field.
Artificial Intelligence
88% of consumers have engaged in at least one conversation with a chatbot in the past year. We are almost sure you are one of them. However, do you know how those chatbots work? They work with the help of artificial intelligence, popularly called AI.
AI has already taken over websites and web apps with a larger-than-life presence. As Pietro Schirano, design lead at business finance company Brex, has started using the AI tool- ChatGPT, he says, “Now, even somebody who has no idea of what they're doing can create a simple web app. In 2023, web development will start actively incorporating these critical tools that would help us modernize our product.
These tools and their utility would extend far beyond chatbots. Soon, we will be able to create websites with intelligent virtual customer service agents, regardless of industry or niche. With these incorporations, businesses could present us with more personalized experiences.
Voice Technology
You are probably familiar with voice interfaces like Siri, Alexa, Echo, etc. While it fascinates us, voice interfaces are now a crucial part of our lives. They are digital personal assistants who take care of our most pressing needs without asking a thousand whys. With the evolution of their use cases, they are all set to overhaul our communications with websites and web applications.
Voice technology can handle your needs easier and offer increasingly complex guidance and responses. They can be conversational and approachable and take the bulk of the work of human representatives' plates.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are built with languages that include JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. These languages have been around for several years. These programs often act like native apps. However, they do not need to be downloaded or installed. That would mean they can promise a significantly faster loading time with a more seamless and attractive user experience. We can even use them offline. But at their core, they are websites that seem like and behave like apps.
Responsive Design Users access websites and web apps by the way it looks. They need help understanding technicalities. But they can look at them on mobile phones, tablets, and laptops to decide if they want to spend any time with your site. The users leverage a range of operating systems while using a diverse range of brands and products. So, companies must ensure that they are ready to deliver a consistent and optimal experience, no matter how consumers access their site or app. As Ethan Marcotte says, “Responsive web design offers us a way forward, finally allowing us to design for the ebb and flow of things. Responsive designs help you get there fast. The latest web development technologies allow webpages to adapt to various scenarios, interfaces, settings, operating systems, etc. This gets increasingly critical as more and more technologies introduce us to different ways we can optimize the user experience.
What are the five stages of web development?
Web development involves several stages, each with its own tasks and challenges. The stages of web development include planning, design, development, and maintenance.
Each stage is essential to the website's success, and it's crucial to ensure that all the stages are executed correctly to provide the best outcome.
To elaborate further, here are important steps you must remember.
Plan it first: This is the initial stage of web development, where the goals and objectives of the project are defined. The planning stage involves research and analysis, such as identifying target audiences, competitors, and the functionality required for the website.
During this stage, a project plan is created, outlining the project's scope, timeline, and budget. It is essential to clearly understand the project's goals and objectives to ensure that the final product meets the needs of the client and the end-users.
Design next: The design stage is where we develop the look and feel of the website. This includes the layout, color scheme, and overall aesthetic of the site.
Web designers use various tools, such as Adobe Photoshop and Sketch, to create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes of the website. The client then reviews and approves these designs before moving to the next stage.
The development follows: The development stage is where the website is actually built. This involves writing code using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Developers also use content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla to build the site.
The development stage is also where the website's functionality, such as forms, e-commerce capabilities, and interactive elements, is implemented.
Testing confirms: Once you develop the website, you need to test it to ensure it is free of bugs and errors. This includes functional testing, which checks that the website's features and functionality work as expected, and usability testing, which checks that the website is easy to navigate and use.
Testing is essential in web development as it helps identify and fix any issues before we launch the website.
Deployment takes over: After the website has been tested and all bugs have been fixed, it is ready to be deployed. This is the stage where the website is moved from the development environment to the production environment, which is accessible to the public.
This step requires a proper server setup, database configuration, and proper implementation of security protocols.
Maintenance persists: Once the website is live, it needs to be maintained to remain up-to-date and secure. This includes updating the content, fixing any bugs that are discovered, and implementing security measures to protect the site from hacking attempts.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep the website running smoothly and to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the client and the end-users.
Web development is a complex process that involves a wide range of skills and technologies. It typically goes through several stages, from planning and design to development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Each stage has its own set of tasks and challenges, and it is important to have a clear understanding of the project's goals and objectives to ensure that the final product meets the needs of the client and the end users.
A successful web development project requires collaboration between designers, developers, and project managers to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality.
What are the different types of Web Development?
Full stack development.
Full-stack web development is when you develop both the client and server sides of a web application.
This includes the front-end, the user interface that the user interacts with, and the back-end, which is the server-side logic that processes requests and manages data.
Full-stack developers need web developers skilled in both front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and back-end technologies such as PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java.
It also demands familiarity with database technologies such as MySQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL to understand server-side concepts such as APIs, hosting, and security.
Static web development: Static web development is the most basic type and involves using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create simple, static web pages. These pages are not dynamic, meaning their content only changes if the developer manually updates the code.
Static web development is ideal for small, informational websites or personal blogs that only require a few interactive elements or complex functionality.
Dynamic web development: Dynamic web development is a more advanced type of web development that involves using programming languages such as PHP, Ruby, and Python.
Dynamic web pages can change their content based on user interactions or other events, making them more interactive and engaging. Dynamic web development is ideal for websites that require user registration, e-commerce capabilities, or other interactive features.
E-commerce web development: E-commerce web development is a specialized web development focused on creating online stores and other e-commerce websites. This type of development involves payment gateway integration, shopping cart functionality, and other features specific to e-commerce websites. E-commerce web development is ideal for businesses selling products or services online.
Use our website to demonstrate
Responsive web development:
Responsive web development is a type of web development that focuses on creating websites that can adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
Responsive web pages are designed to look and function well on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This type of development is ideal for businesses that want to ensure their website is accessible and user-friendly on all devices.
CMS web development: involves using content management systems such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla to build and manage websites. This type of development is ideal for businesses and organizations that need to manage a lot of content and want a simple, user-friendly way to do so.
Custom web development: Custom web development is a type of web development that involves creating a unique website tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the client.
Custom web development is ideal for businesses and organizations that need a unique website that cannot be achieved with pre-built templates or other off-the-shelf solutions.
How to choose Technology for Your Company's Web Development process?
When choosing technology for web development, you have several categories you'll need to consider. We'll look at 2 of these critical tools.
They are the building blocks of the web development process. They include languages and frameworks.
Programming Languages
You use three main languages in web development: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. HTML creates the structure, CSS lends the visual product appeal, and JavaScript will essentially bring the website to life. JavaScript would help you add interactive and appealing features.
However, you will need to incorporate additional programming languages into your toolkit. These languages make your website functional, user-friendly, and engaging. The common languages that you can use for web development include:
Python
Java
Ruby
TypeScript
Golang
Rust
When you prepare to choose the most appropriate language for your next project, note that the factors like the community and resources, the language's strengths, etc., matter.
Frameworks
Web development frameworks can facilitate easier development and present you with resources and tools. These tools allow you to build your project quicker, without as many hiccups.
Some of the most common web development frameworks include:
React
Vue
Django
Spring
Flutter
NodeJS
ExpressJS
ASP.NET Core
Are you worried about choosing the proper framework for your next project? Consider the elements like:
Adaptability
Hosting Requirements
Industry and niche
Licensing
Resources available
Usability and learning curve
As web designer Mohamed Saad said, “A successful website does three things: It attracts the right kinds of visitors. Guides them to the main services or product you offer. Collect Contact details for future ongoing relation.
There are many perfect technologies for the web development journey. Instead, developers often take the liberty of applying a range of languages, frameworks, environments, and other tools.
These tools and resources help the developers create a functional, user-friendly, well-designed website or web app—platforms that will respond better to your user's needs and wants.
Hire the best in development today.
MarsDevs helps you be more creative, try more efficient systems, and play the long-term game. We know how to do it differently and still be relevant. So, our collaboration can help you understand what your business needs at the moment.
MarsDevs is a one-stop development shop that takes care of all your tech needs and makes your business more efficient. We also help you with expert consultancy to know if you need to catch up. And that's not it.
We have a team of dedicated experts to develop, manage, and deploy applications while you focus on scaling the business. We know it already sounds unbelievable. But in this list of incredible truths, we would like to add one more. MarsDevs is affordable too.
So, instead of waiting and worrying about what's next. Get ready with your tech requirements and get on a call with us. We will discuss possibilities and expertise while you present the plan.
What is a website? You often come across collections of web pages and related content identified by a common domain name. These web pages are published on at least one web server and are known as websites. Websites are often dedicated to a particular topic or purpose. These topics include news, commerce, entertainment, education, etc.
What is HTTP? HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is a protocol for transferring data over the internet. It is the foundation for data communication for the World Wide Web (WWW) and allows for exchanging information between a client and a server. HTTP is a request-response protocol where the client sends a request to the server, and the server sends a response back.
The data that is sent between the client and server is in the form of text, images, videos, and other forms of multimedia. HTTP is a fundamental building block for the web and is used by MarsDevs to build dynamic and interactive websites.
What do we mean by an IP address? An IP address is a unique numerical label that is assigned to every device connected to the internet. It serves as the identifier for each device, allowing data to be transmitted between devices and allowing communication between the device and the internet.
There are two types of IP addresses, IPv4 and IPv6, with IPv4 being the most widely used. An IP address allows for routing data packets from a source to its destination and is critical for the functioning of the internet and all its connected devices. MarsDevs understands the importance of IP addresses in the functioning of the internet and the role it plays in connecting devices and transmitting data.
What do we mean by front-end? Frontend development refers to creating a website's user interface and client-side functionality. It is the part of web development that deals with the presentation and interactivity of a website and is what the end-user interacts with.
Frontend developers use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create visually appealing and user-friendly websites. Front-end development aims to create an intuitive and seamless user experience.
MarsDevs has experienced frontend developers who understand the importance of creating an attractive and functional website and can turn designs into dynamic, interactive websites that are easy to use.
What do we mean by back-end? Backend development refers to the server-side functionality of a website. It is the part of web development that deals with the processing and storage of data and is responsible for the smooth operation of a website.
Backend developers use programming languages such as PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java to build the server-side components of a website. The backend of a website communicates with databases, APIs, and the frontend to provide the necessary information to the user.
MarsDevs has experienced backend developers who understand the importance of having a robust and scalable backend that can handle the processing and storage of large amounts of data, ensuring the website runs smoothly.
Which cloud providers to use? MarsDevs utilizes a variety of cloud providers to host our clients' websites and applications. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are the most commonly used cloud providers.
These cloud providers offer various services, including computing power, storage, and databases, allowing web development companies to efficiently build, deploy, and scale websites and applications. The choice of cloud provider depends on the project's specific needs, and MarsDevs is experienced in utilizing multiple cloud providers to find the most effective solution for their clients.
How to deploy the apps? Deploying apps is a crucial part of web development, and MarsDevs has streamlined processes for deploying apps efficiently and effectively. The deployment process typically involves the following:
Preparing the app for production.
Uploading the code to a server.
Configuring the server to run the app.
Depending on the app's complexity, additional steps such as setting up databases, configuring security measures, and integrating with other services may be required. MarsDevs uses tools such as containerization with Docker, continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines with tools like Jenkins, and cloud-based platforms such as AWS or GCP to automate and simplify the deployment process. We ensure that deployed apps are secure, scalable, and easily maintainable.
Which database system to use? MarsDevs considers multiple factors when choosing a database for a project, including the size and complexity of the data, the performance requirements, and the scalability needs.
Some of the most popular databases used by the best web development companies include:
Relational databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL
NoSQL databases such as MongoDB and Cassandra
In-memory databases such as Redis and Memcached
The choice of the database will depend on the project's specific needs, and MarsDevs utilizes multiple databases to find the most effective solution for our clients. We also keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in database technology to ensure our clients are using the most suitable and efficient database for their needs.
Hiring expense of a tech hire! MarsDevs understands that budgeting for technology talent can be challenging. The basic charges for technology hires vary greatly depending on the type of work and the level of expertise required.
Hourly rates for tech professionals range from $50 to $200 per hour, while project-based rates can be anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000. For ongoing support, staff augmentation rates can range from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, while maintenance costs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per month.
However, MarsDevs partners with you at around $30- $40 an hour. It's essential to understand the costs involved and budget accordingly to ensure you get the right talent for your needs.
Platforms to connect developers. MarsDevs knows the importance of connecting with other developers to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and industry trends. Several platforms provide opportunities for developers to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another.
Some popular platforms include GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, and LinkedIn. These platforms offer communities where developers can share knowledge, ask questions, and contribute to open-source projects. Whether you're looking to expand your skill set, find new projects, or connect with other developers, these platforms provide a valuable resource for the technology community.
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