The Beginner’s Guide to Website Development
As someone who’s spent countless hours coding and experimenting with websites, I’ve come to see web development as more than just coding. It’s an art, a way of bringing ideas to life. While website development makes us think of coding, it includes all related development tasks, such as client-side scripting, server-side scripting, server and network security configuration, ecommerce development, and content management system (CMS) development.
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If you’re interested in the ins and outs of web development, I’m excited to share with you the basics of web development and the exhilarating process of creating a website from scratch. I remember the first website I ever built—it was full of bright colors and clunky animations, but it was mine, and it sparked a lifelong passion. Through trial and error, I’ve personally discovered the joy of turning complex problems into elegant solutions.
Feel free to leap around the guide using the chapter links to find what you are looking for. Let’s dive right in.
Why is web development important?
Can you believe that we’re part of a world where over 5.30 billion people are connected through the Internet? That’s more than half of our global population, actively engaging in research, connection, education, and entertainment through this incredible digital universe.
Given the rapidly increasing number of Internet users, it’s no surprise that web development is a rapidly expanding industry. Between now and 2030, the employment of web developers is expected to grow by 13%, much faster than most other technology careers. It’s an exciting time to be in this field, and I’m thrilled to be part of this dynamic industry.
Web Development vs. Web Programming
Web development and web programming sound very similar — and they are. But there’s one very important distinction.
Web development refers to the overall process of creating websites or web applications, including the project’s design, layout, coding, content creation, and functionality. It involves using a combination of programming languages, tools, and frameworks to bring a website or web application to life. It may also encompass project management activities, such as fielding development requests from stakeholders or freelance clients.
Web programming, on the other hand, specifically refers to the coding and scripting of a website, whether the front-end or back-end. It primarily involves writing code to handle data, process user inputs, and generate dynamic content. A web programmer will rarely, if ever, handle a web development project from end to end. They may build a certain section of a site or troubleshoot bugs.
Understanding this difference has been crucial in my career, allowing me to appreciate the depth and breadth of skills required in the world of web creation. It’s a reminder of the diverse talents and expertise that come together to make the digital world what it is today.
What is website development?
Website development broadly refers to the tasks and processes involved in creating and maintaining a website. This includes everything from markup and coding to scripting, network configuration, and CMS development.
Now that you have a base understanding of what website development is, 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 mean?
- What is a CMS?
- What is cybersecurity?
