Every project needs the right kind of web development. Whether it’s a full-fledged website or a basic brochure, the right web development can provide your business with a much-needed boost in your online presence. A website serves as a great promotional tool for any business, helping in sales, building brand identity, and engaging with new potential clients. In case your business isn’t into online marketing, a website may not be necessary. But if it does, then you need to make sure your website development is done right. In this article, we’ll discuss the three types of web development, the importance of the three parts of web development, and the best practices for each one.
What Is Web Development?
Let’s start with the basics – what is web development and how does it look? Web Development is the process of designing, developing, and maintaining a website. For a website to be effective, it needs to work seamlessly and be easy to use. So, what does it take for a website to work? A website is a collection of various web development approaches, such as front-end, back-end, and full-stack. The combination of these three parts (or components) is called web development. A website should contain all three, and if it does not, then it’s a bad website.
You have probably heard of front-end, back-end, and full-stack web development. Some might argue that there is little to no difference between them, while others may prefer to call one over the other. In this post, we’ll explore the three key ways to develop a website.
1. Front-end Web Development
A developer’s first step in front-end web development is starting with a clean slate, with minimal requirements. One of the ways in which you can create websites is through front-end web development. In this case, you are going to create the website with the help of the technologies that allow you to interact with the website, such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. If you are going to work with a web design agency, you can specify the entire project as front-end web development. However, if you are not going to take this step and aim to develop it on your own, you can also have two options. First of all, you can go for the single-page application, which is an app that makes use of web technologies and that does not offer a standard backend.
Alternatively, you can go for the hybrid or mobile-first approach, which involves the use of technologies that allow you to create websites for your mobile applications, such as AngularJS. Front-end web development requires a developer to focus on the visual part of the website. As a developer, it is your job to make sure that the front-end works as expected and that the users are able to interact with the website with ease. This usually involves creating the user interface, styling, and scripting. All these are necessary to ensure that every part of the website works seamlessly, including the interaction of the website with the back-end.
2. Back-end Web Development
Back-end web development is the backbone of web development since it serves to build the core part of your website. Back-end web development is different from front-end development. In the case of the latter, you do not need any kind of external library or framework. This is a very strong point, as you will have full control over your application. However, it is important to know how to use some basic tools for development, such as a programming editor. In the case of JavaScript, you can use Notepad++ or Atom, for example.
Then you will also have to know some important concepts, such as Node.js, which is a programming environment that allows you to run programs written in JavaScript. You also have to know how to work with web servers to facilitate the distribution of the application and to have access to the APIs that are required.
Finally, the third part of the back-end web development is an API or service configuration that allows you to interact with the APIs that are already there and to connect the application to a backend service. With the help of an API, you are going to have a certain degree of control over your business.
So, based on the above, the front-end is all about the user interface, while the back-end is about the code. Usually, the back-end code is the most important element in a project. However, the front-end also has to be in sync with the code. Most web developers do not get the chance to interact with the back-end code. As a result, most of the errors can be detected before the users reach the website.
With more and more projects being built on the cloud, it has become essential for the back-end developer to have the skills required to move the site to the cloud. You can develop your website locally, but if you plan to migrate the website to the cloud, it is critical for you to know the fundamentals. And this is where knowing the back-end core is a must.
3. Full-stack Web Development
Full-stack web development is when the developer needs to focus on both front-end and back-end web development and makes sure that everything works correctly. While it is crucial to develop both the front-end and the back-end, it is difficult to perform the activities that require both skills.
Full-stack web development has become essential for many projects. Every website consists of the front-end and back-end parts, so there should be an expert controlling the integration and work of the two. What is more, with the growing usage of cloud-based systems, it is essential for developers to have all the skills needed to build/maintain a website. It requires expertise in the front-end, the back-end, and the cloud. As a developer, you need to make sure that your work does not become outdated and that every user of your website is not facing any issues. In case you want to hire a web development agency, then we strongly recommend checking that they support all three types of web development and have dedicated experts in their teams.
