Web development – Everything you need to know
Homepages, online shops, social networks, portals, streaming services and web apps all have web development in common. They all need a well-functioning and interactive website. This is because it is crucial to whether users* recognise a product. Unfortunately, websites often simply disappear into the vastness of the internet. To prevent this, web development focuses on the needs of the end user and at the same time maximises the business success of the respective company.
Table of contents
- What is web development?
- How does web development work?
- Website structure
- What does web development cost?
- What does a web developer do?
- Where does a web developer work?
- What can you specialise in as a web developer?
- What does a web developer earn?
- Technical basics of web development
- Wireframes, Roadmaps, CMS, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP
- Current jobs in web development
What is web development?
Web development (also known as web programming) refers to the design and implementation of websites and applications for the World Wide Web. The focus here is on hypermedia presentations, design and architecture, among other things. However, the focus is also on further development, maintenance and the implementation of extensions. For example, with so-called web apps.
Hypermedia representations are media such as text, graphics, audio or video. However, these are non-linear (not in a predetermined order) and are connected to each other via hyperlinks.
Digitalisation and the rapid change in media and presentations on the Internet mean that web developers and IT freelancers also have to constantly evolve. The original information platform has increasingly become an entertainment medium since the 1990s. As a result, interactive websites with appealing design and dynamic content are now taking centre stage instead of plain text.
It is no longer enough to simply fill a homepage with suitable information. A website must be versatile and interesting. Nevertheless, it must not overwhelm the consumer. Simple operation and an understandable interface are of particular importance.
This is what makes good web programming:
- Interactive websites
- Appealing design
- Dynamic content
- Customised for users
- User friendly
- Professional web hosting
- Current web standards
How does web development work?
Web programming can mean many things. Therefore, the individual requirements must be planned and technically implemented by the web developer. Due to the many different types of websites, there are just as many ways to realise them. In the following section, you will learn everything you need to know about the structure of a website, the process of developing for the web and the costs of a web application.
Website structure
The basis for every website is storage space on a server. So-called web hosts are specialised internet service providers and usually offer this storage space in a complete package. They include server services such as RAM, a dedicated domain, databases and the necessary tools for web development.
Overview of the most important elements of a website:
- Domain: The domain is a unique and unambiguous name for the website. It consists of a Top-level domain (i. e. com), a freely selectable domain name (the second-level domain) and optional subdomains.
- Webspace: Webspace is a storage quota for HTML documents, stylesheets, images, videos or databases. They are made available there for retrieval from the Internet.
- Database: If websites are to be generated each time a page is called up, web developers usually relational databases for data processing. Information is structured as data records in tables. These are then linked to other data records using IDs.
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Web server: Shared hosting is ideal for small companies. With this hosting model, several customer domains share common server resources. Larger projects or companies are usually allocated extra
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The word developer is often associated with programmers. Although programming is a large part of development, there are many more aspects to it.
This is how a professional web application is created:
- Analysing the requirements: Web developers and customers analyse the goals and requirements of the project. These are discussed with regard to possibilities and realisation.
- Planning: Cost and time schedules are important for a well-planned process. This allows the framework conditions of the project to be estimated. Web developers always look at which frameworks, languages and databases are the right ones for the project. The programmers then create mock-ups and prototypes. In other words, they start with the initial graphic design of the user interface. These are then discussed and customised with the customer.
- Front- & backend development: User-friendly user interfaces and appealing designs are developed in the front end. In the backend, developers and programmers take care of the code structure, e.g. with Angular
- Methods & development approaches: There are a wide variety of technical principles and methods. For example Kanban or Scrum. This allows development to be carried out flexibly.
- Acceptance & support: Once the web application has been finalised, it is tested. The customer can then accept it. In many cases, however, the work of the web programmer is not yet over. The maintenance, service and support services continue even after the web application has been completed.
What does web development cost?
Whether online shop, web app or web service. The costs of development and programming can vary greatly. Depending on the technical complexity, web development usually costs 2,500-10,000 euros. Larger projects can also cost 50,000-100,000 euros, as entire teams of developers, project managers and designers are required for implementation.
We will be happy to discuss the costs with you in a free initial consultation.
This table shows the degree of difficulty of producing the individual web applications. The costs are closely related to the degree of difficulty.
What does a web developer do?
A web developer has to bring a lot to the table. It is not enough just to know the technical basics and be able to programme. Programming is only a small part of the programming process.
Which tasks a web developer or web engineer ultimately takes on depends entirely on the size of the company. The larger the company, the more specific the division of tasks. Full-stack developers, for example, have competences in consulting, project management and conception. They also have expertise in programming, web design, content management, hosting, monitoring and maintenance.
Web developers are responsible for the creation and maintenance of websites. They use different programming languages to create websites and must constantly keep up to date with new technologies and developments. Developers must be able to solve complex problems and should have a good eye for detail.
Where does a web developer work?
Web developers are usually employed in a workplace. They can work in companies, public authorities or organisations, or they can also work freelance or as an employee of a web agency. In some cases, web developers can also work from home.
What can you specialise in as a web developer?
Web developers can specialise in many different areas. Some programmers choose to focus on front-end development and create websites and applications for users. Others focus more on back-end development and work on the infrastructure of a website or application.
There are also web developers who specialise in the development of content management systems (CMS). These developers create software that allows users to easily manage and edit content. Continuing education is very important for web developers as technologies are constantly evolving. To be successful, developers need to constantly refresh and expand their knowledge.
What does a web developer earn?
The salary of a web developer depends on their qualifications and experience. As a rule, the salary is between 30,000 and 80,000 euros gross per year. Depending on the company, bonuses and other additional benefits may be added.
Find out more about the salary of an IT specialist here.
Technical basics of web development
Individually programmed web applications must fulfil a wide range of technical requirements. Web developers or web development agencies must therefore be able to master the important technologies and programming languages. In this fast-moving and diverse field of computer science, it is important to have an overview of the current technical basics.
The options for creating a website range from simple and intuitive web apps to flexible content management systems (CMS) and self-written source code. Either way, every developer should be familiar with these terms:
Wireframes/Roadmaps
Wireframes and roadmaps are tools for conceptualisation. Wireframes are visual guidelines for websites that define a scheme. Roadmaps are the equivalent for app development. Adobe XD, for example, is used to create wireframes.
CMS
Content management systems can help with website creation thanks to their customised interface. You do not need in-depth knowledge of programming languages. It is software that can be used to edit and publish web content. Even without programming knowledge and via a graphical user interface. This includes texts or multimedia elements, for example. Well-known content management systems include WordPress, Shopify and Squarespace.
HTML
HTML is a markup language and not a programming language. It does not include design or logic, only content and structure. HTML determines where which content is displayed in the browser. Tags and attributes represent the semantic structuring of digital content. It can define text sections, headings, graphics or hyperlinks.
CSS
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a design language that is responsible for layout and design. It is used to format and edit HTML documents.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language that can be used to change the behaviour of a website. This gives a website complexity and interactivity with the user. Static HTML websites are thus given dynamic content and an extended basic structure.
Hier eine Beispielanwendung von HTML, CSS und JavaScript.
PHP
PHP developers use the scripting language to make dynamic websites possible. Dynamic websites are only generated when they are requested by a web browser, whereas static websites are stored on the web server. There they wait to be called up.
Current jobs in web development
Start your career as a web developer now! We’ll find the right job for you. Take a look at our vacancies or simply get in touch using our application form. We’ll take care of the rest. Your advantage: It’s convenient and completely free of charge for you.
Do you have further questions about web development?
You can reach us from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm. We look forward to hearing from you!
info@platri.de
Phone
0234 497 014 47
Do you have any further questions about our article, this topic or app development costs at Platri IT? Then please get in touch with us. If you are interested in a job at Platri IT, we look forward to your visit to our career portal. We look forward to hearing from you!