When you get your company’s new website built, you need someone who can take care of both the web development and web design. However, you’re not entirely sure what the difference between those functions are and why you need both. Design is not development and vice-versa.
Fortunately, Big Rock Graphics – local to Tweed Heads – can assist with both the website design and development. Read on to learn more about what web development is.
In simple terms, website design is all about what the user sees on their screen, while web development is all about what goes on in the background to make it work. Web development is the engine under the hood ‒ and engines need technicians and mechanics, not artists. However, no one wants to drive around in a car that’s just an exposed engine on wheels. You want it to look good too. Therefore, you need both functions ‒ art and engineering ‒ to get a quality end-product.
The best web developers build websites that function so fluidly that their work behind the scenes is invisible to the user and won’t impact on the user experience (UX). A web developer knows how to code using coding and scripting languages such as HTML, CSS, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, and JavaScript, among others. In addition, a web developer knows how to build your website and keep it running. This involves managing both the front-end and back-end mechanics seamlessly. Although some web developers will specialise in one or the other, most good web developers have a working knowledge of both front-end and back-end web development and design.
Front-End Development
The front-end ‒ or user-side ‒ comprises those functions that the user interacts with directly, such as links, plug-ins and applications. Also known as the User Experience (UX). The front-end side of web development typically overlaps with web design. It requires good knowledge and understanding of user interface and experience theory and principles. However, the principal idea is that the web developer does not design the website but rather brings the web designer’s vision to life along with any client integrations with external services such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
Back-End Development
The back-end is all about data management between the website and the server, ensuring that data is transmitted to and from the front-end so the website works as it was designed to do. The back-end involves things like database management, writing application programme interfaces and creating libraries.
This part of web development is hidden entirely from the user and is only accessible through special software and programming languages such as SQL, PHP, Java, .NET, MongoDB, C#, Symfony and so on.
Full-Stack Development
In a nutshell, full-stack web developers do both front-end and back-end web development. The advantage of doing both in one go is that the two aspects tend to be more tailored for one another, leading to more optimal websites.
Whether you’re looking for services and advice in web development or web design in Tweed Heads, Big Rock Graphics’ web developers can help you out. Contact us now for more information!
