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How has web development changed over the years?

Dereck Laming

Web development has come a long way since the inception of the first website in 1991. Over the years, we have seen a number of changes and advancements in web development that have completely revolutionized the way we create and interact with websites. In this post, we'll discuss some of the most significant changes and evolution in web development.

Firstly, the rise of mobile devices and their accompanying browsers has transformed the way we build websites. Websites that were once designed exclusively for desktop screens now need to be optimized for all screen sizes, creating a demand for responsive design. This shift has required developers to use flexible grids, reactive images, and appropriate typography to ensure websites look great no matter what device they're being viewed on. Moreover, building Progressive Web Apps has become a must-have for developers to enable better offline functionality and better cache implementation so that people can use their sites with ease even without having internet access.

Another major change has been the introduction of new coding languages. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) remain fundamental to web development, but newer languages such as JavaScript have become increasingly important. JavaScript has allowed for more interactivity and development of complex and dynamic web applications such as single-page applications (SPAs) and more advanced chatbots. JavaScript frameworks such as React, AngularJS, and Vue.js have been developed over the years to facilitate faster and more structured development.

Web development has also embraced server-side computing, enabling more advanced website functionality such as complex business logic, APIs, and faster data processing. Technologies such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Node.js have been adopted for web applications providing effective server-side performance and scalability. Over time, the use of cloud databases, storage solutions, and computing infrastructure has also increased, providing developers with easy and cost-efficient ways to host their applications on massive server networks spread globally.

The rise of social media and its popularity has also had a significant impact on web development. Nowadays, web development needs to fit around social media plugins and widgets. Developers need to accommodate social integration within a website's design and functionality. Additionally, e-commerce has become a primary source of income for many websites, with integration with payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Square becoming a vital feature to provide a seamless customer journey.

In conclusion, web development has undergone numerous changes over the years, from the rise of mobile devices and responsive design to the increasing importance of server-side computing, and the growth of social media. The proliferation of newer languages and frameworks has made building complex web applications simpler than ever, and progressive techniques & best practices have transformed the way people interact with and access websites. As we continue to witness innovation and development in this area, there is no doubt we will continue to experience numerous further changes and improvements in web development.