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Web development can be defined as the process of building, creating, and maintaining a website. It is relevant for simple and complex web pages and also social network applications. Even for website owners that are unfamiliar with coding, in order to successfully manage a website it’s important to get to grips with web development.
As the world wide web grows and becomes increasingly interconnected, data-protection and privacy measures are becoming more and more important. Security safeguards are needed to protect both website users as well as the website itself.
For this reason among others, it is of benefit to anyone with an online business or e-commerce site to learn more about a few basic web development strategies. So without further ado, let’s jump right in.
#1 Know Basic Code Languages
Coding is the writing code used for applications and servers that uses specific programming languages. Coding languages use grammatical rules and vocabulary to communicate with computers. This also includes specific commands, punctuation and abbreviations that can be read by programs and devices.
Website owners should familiarize themselves with basic code languages for web development, such as CSS, HTML, JavaScript and jQuery. This is because web development goes far beyond the creation of what any given user may see. Instead, the key to developing a website is in the coding used to design layout, aesthetics and the overall feel of a site.
Without a good knowledge of coding, it is impossible to make adjustments to these aspects of a website. For example, a person would not be able to take control of front-end issues or troubleshoot design issues or elements for a site’s skin and basic functionality.
#2 The Ins and Outs of Servers
It’s important for website owners to know how servers are connected to the function of their site, so that they can keep track of site data. Web servers are computer systems able to deliver web content to users via a browser.
The main function of web servers is to process, store and deliver information that has been requested by end users. If there are any issues with this, it could mean that the domain malfunctions. Site owners should consider that servers are primarily used to manage and process HTTP or HTTPS requests as well as other responses brought about by the client system.
Web servers can be used to navigate issues such as:
- Protecting and storing website data
- Regulating network traffic by controlling bandwidth
- Virtually hosting services like apps, websites, data and more
If a web server experiences outages regularly it’s a good idea to implement a backup power system so that a site owner can continue to keep the website up 24/7. At times, servers malfunction due to there not being a cooling or heating system in place. It is also important to have regular light cleaning and maintenance done on the server hardware.
#3 Responsive Web Design
Responsive Web Design (RWD) is imperative if you want your website to perform optimally with any device. In other words, RWD affects a website’s ability to reformat according to the size of a device’s screen (whether it be a laptop, desktop computer, phone or tablet.)
According to Statista.com the rate of growth in mobile device website traffic has been steadily climbing since 2015. This means that recent years have seen e-commerce traffic primarily on mobile devices, which is a good reason to pay attention to responsive web design.
#4 Internet Safety Laws
With technology progressing at a rapid pace businesses are having to take data protection and privacy more seriously. For this reason, it’s crucial for online companies to understand the regulations and security safeguards put in place for that exact purpose.
Online privacy and safety laws play a role in running websites securely and lawfully. Some of the more prominent regulations in place in America and around the world include the Online Privacy Act of 2021 – which requires opt-in consent.
For example, one of the leading e-commerce platforms Shopify has its own distinct policies and approaches to comply with federal regulations, for a detailed briefer, review the Shopify cookie consent guide to ensure you’re properly following opt-in compliance directives.
The act also requires reasonable cybersecurity practices and data minimization. If website owners use a third-party app or platform, different policies may come into play so it is important to be aware of them. Plugins are an example of a common third-party app that web owners use for their domain.
The Bottom Line
These days online security is of paramount importance for web developers and website owners alike. By learning to code, and learning how to use servers, website owners can take control of the front-end layout of their sites as well as troubleshoot any malfunctions with servers themselves. Responsive web design is no longer optional in the world of e-commerce, but a necessity. Knowing the internet safety laws will also help to keep many online businesses afloat.