Web Development: The Basics

What is Web Development? While the answer may seem straightforward, web development is not just developing and building websites; it’s also maintaining and improving them.

What is a Website?

Websites, simply put, are files stored on servers. Servers, on the other hand, are computers that host websites, as their primary job is to hold the files. These servers are connected to the giant network called the internet.

Browsers are computer programs which use your internet connection to load websites, such as Google Chrome or Safari.

What is an IP Address?

An Internet Protocol Address, otherwise known as an IP address, is a standard-setting that uses interaction on the internet. An IP address is a unique line of numbers, which every device has to differentiate itself from the billions of websites and devices connected to the internet.

What is HTTP?

HyperText Transfer Protocol, known as HTTP, is what connects your website request to the remote server that houses all data of all websites. HTTP is a set of rule that determines how messages are sent over the internet, allowing you to switch between site pages and websites.

What is Coding?

Coding refers to the writing of code for servers and applications. Coding is called a ‘language’ because it uses the vocabulary and grammatical rules for communicating with computers. Code also includes special commands, abbreviations and punctuation that can only be read by devices and programs.

What is the Front-End?

Front-end of a website is also called the client-side, which is essentially what you see and use on a website. Front-end code enables users to interact with a website, from clicking on the menu drop-down button to playing videos to highlighting text.

What is Back-End?

The back-end of a website is also called the server-side, which is the side you don’t see; behind the scenes work. Essentially, it’s the digital infrastructure, and it consists of a bunch of numbers, symbols and letters in the chosen coding language.

What is a CMS?

A content management system, known as a CMS, are web applications or multiple programs that are used to create and manage web content. CMS provides building blocks, like add-ons and plugins, which lets you create the structure of your website with your own code.

Why is Web Development Important?

Whether you’re a business owner looking to hire a freelance developer to build your website or someone learning about web development as a career, understanding the very basics of web development is important.

The internet is only being used more and more; it’s now the primary place for education, research, connection and entertainment all over the world. In 2019, there were 4.2 billion internet users globally, which is more than half of the population of the world. Imagine a few years down the track, how many more people will be using the internet then?

The one thing that every internet application or software has in common is that they require a website, which requires a skilled web developer to create. The employment of web developers is expected to grow by over 13% in the next ten years, which is much faster than most other technology careers.

Written by Halle Mitchell

Marketing Assistant at Do Good Things.

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