As I’ve started coding and experimented with websites, I’ve learned that web development isn’t just markup and coding. You can bring ideas to life with it. A website is a whole lot more than that. It’s scripting on the client side, scripting on the server side, network security, ecommerce, and content management system (CMS) development.
So, I am going to walk you through everything you need to know about website development. I know how confusing this can be if you’re new to the development field. So for those who need a more user-friendly approach can start with WordPress. WordPress is a Content Management System and its open source. Read our WordPress article for more. This is a great place to start if you are just beginning your web development journey.
How important is Web Development
Did you know that half of our world population is connected through the internet. They are mostly active in research, education, connection, and entertainment. The increasing number of internet users is promising that the website development is expanding. The time period from now to 2023, the expected in web development is 13% which is much faster than other technologies. It is really An excited time to be in this field and i am also excited to be a part of this journey.
Web Development vs. Web Programming
They both look alike and and also almost same, but there is an important distinction.
Web development refers to the overall process of developing a website, this includes the project’s design, coding, layouts, content creation, and functionality. For this we use some programming language, tools, and frameworks.
Web programming on the other hand mainly refers to coding and scripting in client side or server side based on user input data. Handle data, process user input, and also generate dynamic content in websites.
What is Website Development?
Website development broadly refers to the process and tasks in creating and maintaining a website. This includes the markup and coding to scripting, network configuration, and CMS development.
Now you have a basic understanding of website development. Let’s go deeper
Web Development Basics
- What is a website?
- What is an IP Address?
- What does HTTP mean?
- What is coding?
- What does front-end mean?
- What does back-end means?
- What is a CMS?
What is a website?
A website is a bunch of files which are stored on a server. Servers are just computers which will always be connected to the network and running.
Now think about how we access the website? This is where browsers come into play. Browsers are computer programs which are designed to load websites through your internet connection, such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera. The devices which is used to access these websites are known as ‘clients.’
What is an IP address?
Did you ever think about how the Internet knows where the request is coming from and where to send data? You will get the answer if you understand what an IP address is. To access a website you need to know its Internet Protocol (IP) address. It’s a unique string. Each device has its own unique IP address which is separating them from billions of websites and devices.
What does HTTP mean?
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It’s a way for computers to communicate with each other over the internet, specifically for sharing web pages and other content.
If I type any website in my browser or search for any website in search engine, the HTTP provides a framework so that client (user device) and the server can communicate when they make any request or send a response. When we get a response from the server, the browser will show the response data in the form of a website.
What is coding?
Writing code for server and application using a programming language is coding. Why is it called language? It’s because they include vocabulary and grammatical rules for communicating with computers. There are some special commands and punctuation that only devices or computers can read.
All the software you see in real life is developed in at least one coding language. The language which they use is based on the platform, operating system, and style. All the coding languages are categorized in two categories. Front-end and back-end.
If you’re specialized in both front-end and back-end, then you’re a Full-Stack Developer.
What does front-end mean?
Front-end (or client -side) is the same as it reads. It’s the front part of a web application which you can interact with. When you make a request to server and server response with the data. This data is based on some front-end programming language (HTML, CSS, JS). The browser will render this data and show this as a website. In this front-end you can interact like play videos, highlight texts and more.
What does back-end mean?
The backend is the process behind the response you get from the server. When you make a request from your browser for a website, the request goes to the website’s back-end. The back-end is developed in a programming language to handle the request. For example if you request a blog page, the back-end programming language receives the request, processes it and sends the proper response to you.
For the back-end you can configure almost any programming language. But from the front-end, browsers can only understand HTML, CSS, JS.
What is a CMS?
A content management system (CMS) is a web application or a series of programs user to create and manage website content. (Note: A CMS isn’t the same as site builders like wix).
Developing a website in CMS will make things easier. You can add additional functions one click, It’s called plugins. CMS is mostly used for eCommerce and blogging. But it’s possible to create all kinds of websites.
In conclusion, website development is a dynamic and essential skill in the digital age, providing endless opportunities for creativity and functionality. From understanding the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to exploring frameworks and content management systems, beginners can build a strong foundation and gradually advance their skills. Whether you’re creating a personal blog, an e-commerce site, or a portfolio, the journey of learning web development is both challenging and rewarding. Happy coding!
