Web development is the process of creating websites and web applications.
It covers a range of activities, from developing plain text webpages to complex web-based applications, social network applications, and electronic business applications.
Essentially, web development can be categorised into three main types:
- Front-end development.
- Back-end development.
- Full-stack development.
Table of Contents
Front-end development
Front-end development, also known as client-side development, focuses on the visual aspects of a website—the part of the website users interact with.
It involves working with languages such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript. HTML structures the content, CSS is used for layout and styling, and JavaScript adds interactivity to the web pages.
Back-end development
Back-end development, or server-side development, is concerned with the part of the website that users do not see. It involves server management, database interactions, and application logic.
Languages such as PHP, Python, Ruby, and Node.js are common in back-end development. These languages help manage user inputs, process requests and facilitate smooth data transactions within databases like MySQL or PostgreSQL.
Full-stack development
Full-stack development involves both front-end and back-end development. Full-stack developers have the proficiency to handle both client-side and server-side operations, making them versatile contributors to the web development process.
Web developers employ various key terminologies and concepts to create and maintain websites. HTML forms the skeleton of a webpage, providing structural elements like headings, paragraphs, and links.
CSS enhances this structure with design and layout modifications, ensuring the visual appeal of the site. JavaScript brings the site to life with dynamic content and interactive features.
Essential Tools and Technologies
Embarking on a web development journey requires a solid understanding of various tools and technologies that streamline the coding process and enhance productivity.
One of the primary tools for any web developer is a text editor. It offers rich feature sets, including syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and integrated debuggers.
Popular choices include:
- Visual Studio Code
- Sublime Text,
- and Atom.
Equally crucial is the knowledge of version control systems, with Git being the most prevalent.
Git, combined with platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab, becomes invaluable for tracking changes, collaborating on code, and rolling back to previous versions when necessary. Mastering Git commands can significantly ease the workflow of a web developer.
Web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, are essential not only for testing but also for their integrated developer tools.
The Developer Tools offer insights into the structure and behaviour of web pages, allowing developers to debug and optimize their code more efficiently.
Front-end development often involves frameworks and libraries that simplify the development process. React, Angular, and Vue.js are three prominent libraries and frameworks that help in building interactive user interfaces.
React’s component-based architecture, Angular’s comprehensive suite for building dynamic single-page applications, and Vue.js’s progressive framework with an easy learning curve cater to different development needs and preferences.
For back-end development, frameworks like Node.js, Django, and Ruby on Rails are indispensable. Node.js enables JavaScript to run on the server side, fostering efficient and scalable network applications.
Django, a high-level Python framework, is appreciated for its rapid development capabilities and pragmatic design.
Ruby on Rails, known for its convention over configuration approach, accelerates the development of database-backed web applications.
An understanding of databases and SQL is fundamental for web development. Databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB store and manage the application’s data. SQL, the standard language for relational database management, allows developers to perform queries, insertions, updates, and deletions, thus maintaining the integrity and accessibility of data.
Getting Started with Web Development
The initial step involves setting up a comprehensive development environment.
Begin by installing the necessary software, such as a text editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text) and a version control system like Git.
For novices, setting up a local server using MAMP, WAMP, or XAMPP is equally crucial, as it replicates the web server environment on your computer.
Once your environment is ready, it’s advantageous to start with a basic project to familiarise yourself with the workflow.
In the next article, we will explain more about how you can familiarise yourself with the workflow of your tools, and the essential programming language to begin with.