Alright, so website development is basically the whole process of creating and looking after a website.

Everyone, from small businesses to the big ones, needs a website to connect with people and build their brand. Now, there are different parts to website development, like web design, web development, and online marketing which breaks down into digital, psychological and traditional marketing, as well as social media marketing, vlogging, blogging and then into a whole microcosm of images, videos, stories, reels, content and brand awareness.

For now, I will delve into web design and development in the most basic form.

Web Design: This is the start-to-finish process of making a website. Think of it like planning the look and feel of the site, creating its layout, graphics, and making sure it’s easy for people to use.

A good web designer will offer their input, and ideas to help you reach into areas you may not have thought of. I call it thinking outside the box, or smashing the box into pieces to rebuild the box you actually want.

Web Development: This is a broad term covering web design and online marketing in a variety of forms. It’s everything from making a basic website and writing the basics of code, to setting up an online store, incorporating payment platforms, social media etc. Web Developers might also help with things like making your site show up on Google, managing social media and sending out email campaigns.

Getting Started:

Now, if you want to dip your toes into web development, you gotta know some basics. Start with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): This is like the foundation of all websites. It helps you structure and style your content.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): This is the tool for making things look good. You can change colors, sizes, and layouts with CSS.
• JavaScript: This is a programming language for making your website interactive. You can add buttons, pop-ups, and other cool features.
• SQL: (Structured Query Language) – the information on your website needs to be held in a database and that requires a language – SQL.

Web Server:

Alright, next up, web servers. This is where your website lives. It’s the computer system providing the hardware and software for you to create and access your site. Our choice of hosting company is Blacknight Solutions.

Coding:

Coding is basically turning a computer program into something it can understand and execute. You can do this through programming languages (like Java or Python) or development platforms that help you manage your code.

IP Address:

An IP address is like a unique tag for each device on the internet. It helps identify and route traffic. There are private ones, just for your device, and public ones, accessible by any device on the internet.

Cybersecurity:

This is all about protecting your computer and data from unauthorized access. It involves things like antivirus software, keeping your system updated, using firewalls, and encrypting your data.

With all our sites, we add a All-in-one solution that tracks users and automatically emails us if a problem exists.

Types of Web Development:

There are three main types – front-end development, back-end development, and full-stack development.

• Front-end development: This is about making the visual part of a website or app. Front-end devs work on the look, feel, and user experience.
• Back-end development: This involves coding and testing the functionality of a web app. It’s all about handling user requests and managing data behind the scenes.
• Full-stack development: This is doing everything from start to finish, both front-end and back-end.

Website Development Process:

It’s broken down into research, design, development, and testing. You figure out what you want, design it, code it, and then make sure it works before releasing it to the public.

Skills for Web Development:

You’ll need to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics. Familiarity with front-end frameworks like Bootstrap and back-end technologies like PHP can be handy too.

Learning Resources:

If you want to learn more, check out places like Code Academy, Codecademy, and Udacity. They’ve got courses on web development, coding, and all that good stuff.

In a Nutshell:

So, if you were wondering what web development is all about, there you have it! It’s the process of making and maintaining websites, and it’s a mix of creativity and technical know-how. Dive in, explore, and happy website building!