The Beginner’s Guide To Website Development

Are you willing to develop your own website but don’t know where to start? We are giving you a complete solution. Website development means the work that goes into building a website. This includes everything from creating a plain-text web page to a complex web application. While web development refers to web markup coding, it covers all the related tasks like server-side scripting, client-side scripting, e-commerce development, and content management system development.

Many people think that they should have a fancy degree in computer science to design their own website. That is wrong. Anyone can become a web developer with adequate knowledge. You just need to acquire knowledge regarding:

• The basic working of the Internet and Websites.
• The basics of Javascript, HTML, and CSS (read about them further in detail).
• Frameworks and libraries like React.js, jQuery, and Bootstrap.
• Git and GitHub.

Don’t get overwhelmed with this, these skills naturally build off of each other. Learn it slowly and take it step-by-step to prepare a solid foundation. Now that you are familiar with the topic, let’s move further to some crucial components.

The Foundational Step

Everything you see on the internet for that matter what you are seeing just here is made up of CSS, Javascript, and HTML. These are the essential components of Web development. Let’s know what they do!

• HTML –

  HyperText Markup Language is the basic programming language for website development. It provides the basic structure to the site, such as headlines, words, titles, and paragraphs. It has a bunch of established tags that represent various functions that translate into readable information on the screen. Developers write these tags between angle brackets. For example to make a text bold you will write .

• CSS –

  Cascading Style Sheets was developed in the late 1990s. It describes how HTML elements will appear on the web page. CSS is used to control the style, presentation, typography, layout, and basically the formatting of your site. CSS allows you to transform your website into the aesthetics you have envisioned for it.

• JavaScript –

  You can consider it as cherry-on-the-top of coding languages. JavaScript adds functionality to the website. You can use it to add automate tasks within pages, animation, and interactive features that enhance one’s experience while they visit your web page. JavaScript is nowadays the most widely used programming language in the world. If you are serious about web development, start learning the basics of JavaScript.

Now that you’ve understood the foundational stuff, let’s move forward to the necessary components of Web Development.

1. Internet Protocol –

   It governs the interactions on the internet. You need to have the IP address to access the website. An IP address consists of a unique string of numbers. Each device has it’s own individual IP address to distinguish it from billions of websites and devices via the internet. To find out your device’s IP address, you can type in your browser, “What’s my IP address?”

2. HTTP –

   HyperText Transfer Protocol connects your website and you to the remote server. It’s a protocol that defines how messages should be sent over the internet. It allows you to bounce between site pages and websites. When you type anything on the browser tab, HTTP provides a framework that will enable the computer and the search engine to speak the same language when they make requests over the internet. Basically, it works as a translator between you and the internet.

3. Frameworks –

   It is like a prepackaged structure of a pre-written code that determines how programs should interact. For instance, you want to build a pet house at home instead of starting from scratch, you buy a frame to save time and effort. Also, this would assure you that you are going to make something useful. Similarly, a framework offers built-in programs, tools, and plug-ins that you can install in your website files. Frameworks speed up the development process, and they are designed by developers so you can be sure they are valid and pre-tested.

4. Libraries –

   It is a bunch of features and tools that can be added to your website for functionality. Unlike a framework, the library is not a structure; instead, it implements different actions and behavior on your webpage. Let’s once more see the pet house analogy, if the framework is the frame of the house, the library would be the windows and door you will add to tailor your needs.

5. Front-end –

   As an internet user, what you are seeing and interacting with right now is the front-end or the client-side. Front end code allows users to go on a website and play videos, maximize or minimize some image, highlight text, and so on.

6. Back-end –

   It is the side that you don’t see while using the internet. The back-end is more digital infrastructure and looks like a bunch of numbers, characters, and symbols to those who don’t know the programming language.

7. CMS –

   A Content Management System is a series of programs or a web application used to create and manage web content. It provides the building blocks that allow you to create the structure with your code. CMS is typically used for blogging and e-commerce but could be used by any website.

How To Get Started With Web Development?

1. Start with something basic –

   This may sound illogical, right? But the truth is we get over ambitious and end up getting discouraged. If this is your first project, choosing something simple and fun would be better. Once you are experienced, you can tackle more complex sites like e-commerce. You can start with blogging as you can learn how a content management system works.

2. Find Inspiration –

   You can take inspiration from those sites that have wowed you. You can pin posters, illustrations, blogs, book covers, etc. Designers call it “mood board.” If you find yourself stuck, these mood boards can be a quick reference. You can also get recommendations from some website development company.

3. Keep content ready before you start –

   You should have your content available before you start designing your website. You can write your own content, or you can get assistance from professional writers. Several best sites for web development have professional writers who manage content for you. For reference, Timespost.net is one of such websites.

4. Keep your design intuitive but simple –

   Your plan should be simple and in order. Logic should be able to guide someone through the site with ease. You can also invest in a useful design tool. Whereas Photoshop then was go-to software for designers, now Sketch seems to be taking over. Before you start you can watch tutorials on the internet, this would save you a lot of time.

5. UX basics –

   A website is a lot more than just text. UX works on understanding user experience. It is all about getting in the heads of your audience and looking at your design through their eyes.

6. UI basics –

   You might get confused between UI and UX, but they are two distinct concepts. UX is concerned with the overall design and UI with the specifics. UI is all about giving your users tools they need to experience your website free from obstructions.

7. Use Frameworks –

   As a web developer, your life can become a lot easier using frameworks. There are many frameworks available, and you can choose among them. All of this will depend on the particular area you’re working on.

8. Get to track bugs –

   Be habitual to track the bugs from day one. You may think you can ignore them, but this won’t work. You need to manage a workflow where bugs are collected and tracked. At the same time, make sure you enable your users to report back to you with bugs. Following this way, your web development can become successful.

The Take-Away

So there are our tips and everything you need to know as a beginner. As a web developer, there’s no end to learning. Gone are the days when you had to rely on professionals to bring your designs into life. Now you can build, design, and launch websites all by yourself. You just need to understand a few concepts and the difference between good and bad designs, and you’re all set to craft your website. We hope this article was helpful enough for you, and now you can successfully dive into your project.