What is web development?
Web development includes activities related to the creation and maintenance of web solutions, from design to development and management of content.
Creating a website is about more than making something that looks good; it's about creating functional and user-friendly websites that address real needs.
What characterizes a good website?
Three of the most important elements of developing websites are usability, responsive design, and SEO optimization.
Expertise in these areas plays a huge role in creating a great user experience, increasing visibility on search engines such as Google, and ensuring that the entire website works optimally on all devices.
Ease of use
Ease of use is essential to ensure that users find the information they need quickly and easily. A user-friendly website is accessible, fast and will make it easy for users to understand and find relevant content.
Responsive design
Responsive design is a critical component of modern web design and means that they adapt to the screen size of the device being used, whether it is a mobile phone, tablet, or computer.
Mobile-friendly navigation is especially important in today's digital landscape, where the majority of users visit the website on mobile.
SEO optimization
SEO optimization is important to ensure visibility on search engines. Relevant content and its quality are the key to effective SEO. By integrating targeted keywords naturally into the content, one can improve a website's rankings on search engines.
Tools and Resources
To work in web design and development, you often need a variety of tools and resources to get started In general, one often needs:
Design Tools
Tools like Figma allow one to efficiently iterate on drafts and prototypes before moving into a development phase.
Text Editors
Editors such as Visual Studio Code are essential for writing and editing code, such as javascript, typescript, HTML or CSS. This is not necessarily relevant if you use “low-code” solutions such as Webflow or Wordpress.
Framework
Frameworks like React or Svelte can help you develop robust, responsive and user-friendly solutions for the web.
Project Management Tools
Tools like Height, Linear or Jira make it easy to keep track of tasks and projects. They help you plan, organize and follow up on your work, which is especially important in larger projects.
Free Resources
There are several free resources available online where you can e.g. download images for general use (e.g. Unsplash or Pexels), or flexible design systems and UI kits to Figma (e.g. Chronos).
Online courses and tutorials
Codecademy and Udemy offer a variety of courses and tutorials that can help you learn and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in web solution development.
Web development and AI
It is happening a lot in information technology, where new methods and tools are constantly emerging that use AI and other technologies that change the way we learn and work.
In 2024, it has exploded with various solutions such as Cursor and Kode Rabbit. Basic knowledge of new tools is more important than ever to make everyday work more efficient, especially when working with website development or information technology in general.