Web development is the process of building and maintaining a website for the Internet or an intranet that is accessed through a web browser and hosted on a server, either on on-premises hardware or in the cloud. This includes everything from single plain-text webpages up to complex web applications.
The primary methods when developing a website include coding and web markup. However, there are a multitude of development tasks that also go into web development, such as scripting, security configuration, content development and ecommerce infrastructure.
Web developers build websites by coding using different programming languages. These languages consist of unique vocabularies, syntax and commands that define the visual representation and functionality of websites. Which language is used for development depends on the platform, operating system or style of the website. Some of the most common coding languages include the following:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- Python
- C/C++
- C#
Benefits of having a website
- Develop and Enhance your Online Presence
- Improve Business Credibility
- Efficient Way to Promote Your Business
- A Tool for Sales Generation
- Showcase Your Work
- Expand Market Reach And Coverage
- Have a Professional Email Address
- Keep Your Business Open 24/7
- Gain Valuable Insights On Your Customers
- New Streams Of Revenue
How does a website work?
Each website will have a website address, or a domain name, and each domain name is tied to the IP address of the web server it resides on. IP addresses are managed and tracked via the Domain Name Server (or DNS for short).
DNS works very similarly to the Contacts app on your mobile phone – you open up the Contacts app, type in a person’s name and your mobile phone returns with the person’s phone number and other contact information you might have entered. You can then decide if you want to call, email or text that person.
When you type in a domain name in your web browser, your web browser is actually conducting a series of inquiries that include looking up the IP address of the domain name, locating the web server that hosts the web pages of the domain name, submitting a request to that server for a copy of the web page(s), receiving the web page(s) from the server and finally translating the codes on the web page to present the information on your screen.
Types of websites
- eCommerce Website – An eCommerce website is a website people can directly buy products from.
- Business Website – A business website is any website that’s devoted to representing a specific business.
- Portfolio/CV Website – Portfolio and CV websites are sites devoted to showing examples of past work.
- Media Website – Media websites collect news stories or other reporting.
- Brochure Website – A brochure website is a website designed to display a business’s products and services to view online.
- Nonprofit Website – A non-profit website is one that represents a not-for-profit organisation such as a medical research charity, an overseas aid charity, or a heritage charity.
- Educational Website – The websites of educational institutions and those offering online courses fall into the category of educational websites.
- Personal Website – This category includes personal blogs, vlogs, and photo diaries people share with the world.
- Web Portal – Websites designed for internal purposes at a business, organization, or institution.
- Wiki or Community Forum Website – A wiki is any website where various users are able to collaborate on content and all make their own tweaks and changes as they see fit.
- Business directory Websites – A business directory website is one that gathers together data on many different businesses in one place.
- Crowdfunding Websites – They vary from websites designed to allow individuals to make personal charitable appeals to their friends and families, such as for medical care, through to those designed to allow small businesses and new start-ups to develop a new product and bring it to market.
References
Bussing, J. (2020, June 12). 21 Benefits of a Website for a Small Business. Mountaintop Web Design. https://mountaintopwebdesign.com/10-benefits-website-small-business/
Guercio, K. (2021, May 24). Web Development. Webopedia. https://www.webopedia.com/definitions/web-development/
Hicks, K. (2020, November 19). 12 Popular Types of Websites You Can Create. HostGator. https://www.hostgator.com/blog/popular-types-websites-create/#8_Educational_Website
How do websites work? | Doteasy Web Hosting. (n.d.). Doteasy. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.doteasy.com/domain-email-and-website-hosting-articles/how-do-websites-work
Team, B. (2021, April 19). 20 Different Types of Websites – Part 1. GWS Media. https://www.gwsmedia.com/20-different-types-websites-1