So you are probably wondering — what is web development? In simple terms, web development is the start of a website. Analogically speaking, web development is like the brick foundation of a building. Creating a website involves lots of planning, time management, projects, and so on.
So, what kind of phases do web development actually have? Is it complicated? If you are a beginner to this topic, this article gives an introduction to web development life cycle.
Generally, there are 5 phases of web development, all of which are of no less importance to ensure the success of a website. These phases include:
Research & Planning
In web development, two important steps are research and planning. Research and planning are important because they set the foundation for a successful website or app. These steps help make sure the website or app works well, is what users want, stands out from others, and achieves what is wanted.
During the research step, information is gathered about what users like, what is popular in the market, what competitors are doing, and who the website or app is for. This helps figure out what goals should be, what users need, and where creativity can come in.
Once all this information is gathered, the planning step begins. Here, what is learned from research is used to decide what goals should be, how decisions will be made, and how strategy will improve as the process goes on. Feedback from those involved, testing with users, trying out different designs, and making changes based on research are also important parts of this step.
Design & Development
Design and development are crucial in web development. Design involves creating the visual layout, user interface (UI), and overall look of the website. Development involves building the website’s functionality, coding, and integrating various features to make the design work.
These steps are important because they determine how the website looks and works. Good design makes the website attractive and easy to use. Effective development ensures the website works smoothly, loads quickly, and provides a good user experience.
Design involves UI/UX designers who focus on how the website looks and feels to users. This includes creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to show what the website will look like.
Development involves front-end developers, who handle the parts of the website users see and interact with, and back-end developers, who work on the server-side, databases, and application logic.
Testing
Testing in web development checks a website or app to make sure it works correctly and meets the requirements. This includes functional testing, which checks that all features work as they should, and non-functional testing, which looks at performance, usability, security, and other factors.
Testing is important because it ensures the website or app is high quality and reliable. Functional testing finds and fixes problems with specific features, while non-functional testing makes sure the site works well under different conditions and provides a good user experience.
Testing is done by creating and running test cases for different parts of the website or app. Functional testing involves entering data, performing actions, and checking results to ensure features work correctly.
Non-functional testing involves simulating real-world scenarios, measuring performance, testing for security issues, and checking compatibility with various devices and browsers.
Launch
The launch phase in web development involves making the website or application live and available to users.
The launch phase is crucial because it marks the moment when users can access and interact with the website or application. Proper execution ensures a smooth transition from development to live status, minimises downtime, and makes a positive first impression on users.
Maintenance
Maintenance refers to the ongoing activities performed after the website or application is launched. It involves keeping the site updated, fixing bugs, adding new features, and ensuring it remains secure and functional.
This ongoing maintenance is to ensure the website or application continues to meet user needs and remains competitive. It helps prevent issues, improves performance, enhances user experience, and keeps the site secure from potential threats.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, web development is a continuous effort from the planning and all the way to launching. Web developers are also responsible for the post-launch monitoring to keep a good track of the site’s performance. Hopefully, this article has helped you in knowing a little bit more about web development.
If you like this article, consider sharing it with your family and friends! Check our site for more articles!
